tihvavy  oftU  ^heolo0ical  ^rnxnavy 

PRINCETON  .  NEW  JERSEY 

FROM  THE  LIBRARY  OF 
ROBERT  ELLIOTT  SPEER 


BR  1725  .F73  M4  1870 

Memorial  of  Kate  Benedict 

Freeman  . . 


y 


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X 


MEMORIAL. 


^ 


MEMORIAL 


OF 


Kate  Benedict  Freeman. 


f  rinleir  for  ^ribale  Cirtulatmn:. 


NEW   YORK: 

ROBERT  CARTER  AND  BROTHERS, 
530,  Broadway. 
1870. 


Cambridge: 
printed  by  john  wilson  and  son. 


"She  liveth  long  who  Hveth  well : 
All  other  life  is  short  and  vain ; 
She  liveth  longest  who  can  tell 
Of  living  most  for  heavenly  gain. 

•'  She  liveth  long  who  liveth  well ! 
All  else  is  being  flung  away; 
She  liveth  longest  who  can  tell 
Of  true  things  truly  done  each  day." 

BONAR. 


K^4^ 


THE    SCHOOL-GIRL. 


^ 


"/^^OOD  lives  are  like  rays  of  sun- 
light, that  gladden  the  world 
while  they  shine,  but  leave  it  dark 
and  chilly  when  they  depart.  Feeble 
and  faint  at  best  must  be  the  image 
of  a  life  transferred  to  a  printed  page, 
in  comparison  with  that  life  itself,  as 
it  was  felt  by  friends  while  it  lasted, 
and  is  remembered  still ;  but  if  the 
original  were  indeed  a  sunbeam  sent 
from  heaven  to  cheer  a  portion  of 
this  dull  earth,  a  copy,  to  some  extent 
true  and  suggestive,  may  be  taken 
and  kept." 


I O  MEMORIAL. 

This  little  Memorial  lays  no  claim 
to  being  a  biography,  but  aims  merely 
to  give  a  brief  outline  of  the  dear 
departed  one,  to  help  friends  more 
vividly  to  recall  the  vanished  life. 

Kate  Benedict  was  born  in  the  city 
of  New  York,  on  the  19th  of  May, 
1841. 

As  a  child  she  was  remarkable  for 
her  vivacity  and  wit,  and  for  the  zest 
with  which  she  entered  into  both  her 
employments  and  enjoyments. 

Her  education  was  mainly  acquired 
at  the  Spingler  Institute,  under  the 
kind  care  of  the  Rev.  Gorham  D. 
Abbott. 

One  of  her  teachers  writes:  "I  re- 
member her  perfectly,  and  her  dis- 
tinguishing traits  of  character;  affec- 
tionate, talented,  studious,  bright,  sus- 


THE  SCHOOL-GIRL.  II 

ceptible  always  to  the  highest  motives. 
If  I  wished  to  move  her  to  a  certain 
course  of  action,  which  perhaps  was 
new  and  strange  to  her,  I  had  merely 
to  appeal  to  her  sense  of  right,  and  a 
conscience  evidently  educated  by  the 
word  of  God  would  invariably  respond 
to  my  call.  Her  temperament  was 
peculiarly  cheerful,  kind,  and  genial, 
and  she  was  therefore  a  universal 
favorite  with  her  t&achers,  and  also 
her  associates.  She  won  easily,  and 
retained  the  love  of  all. 

"  As  I  write,  one  characteristic  oc- 
curs to  me,  which  illustrates  her  cheer- 
fulness as  well  as  her  kindness  of 
heart.  She  loved  sport,  —  a  play  upon 
words,  or  an  innocent  joke,  —  but 
would  never  go  so  far  as  to  wound 
the  feelings  of  any.     On  the  contrary, 


1 2  MEMORIAL. 

I  remember  she  would  be  among  the 
first  to  cheer  a  schoolmate  who  was 
depressed,  or  incite  her  to  renewed 
study  so  as  to  avoid  censure;  or,  as 
in  one  case  particularly  before  my 
mind,  bring  them  to  me  repentant, 
and  go  away  with  the  forgiven  one 
apparently  as  happy  as  if  she  herself 
had  been  forgiven." 

One    of  her    classmates  writes    as, 
follows :  — 

"  I  well  remember  the  first  time 
that  Katie's  bright,  good-natured  face 
appeared  in  our  school-room;  and 
from  that  day  until  we  finished  the 
prescribed  course  of  study,  five  years 
afterwards,  she  was  truly  the  life  of 
the  class.  In  the  times  of  intermis- 
sion, there  was  always  a  laughing 
group    of  girls    gathered    about    her. 


THE  SCHOOI^GIRL.  1 3 

enjoying  her  funny  sayings.  In  fact, 
we  grew  to  expect  ^  fun '  as  a  matter 
of  course,  when  Kate  was  present, 
and  she  seldom  failed  to  respond  to 
our  desire.  Add  to  her  readiness  of 
speech  a  great  facility  with  her  pen- 
cil, and  you  will  perceive  that  she 
was  a  treasure  to  us. 

"  Under  this  joyous  exterior  Kate 
treasured  deep,  even  enthusiastic,  feel- 
ings on  many  subjects. 

"At  that  time  her  religious  senti- 
ments were  mostly  shut  up  within 
her  own  heart,  —  not  a  subject  of  con- 
versation with  others. 

"  She  was  exceedingly  fond  of  the 
study  of  histor}',  not  as  a  school-study, 
but  for  her  own  home  reading;  and 
often  as  we  sat  together  painting,  with 
our    easels    side    by  side,  would  she 


H 


MEMORIAL, 


express  her  admiration  for  certain 
historical  personages.  I  remember 
her  once  saying  to  me  that  she  would 
rather  have  been  Mme.  Roland  than 
any  other  historical  personage  she 
knew  of.  Her  sympathy  with  the 
noble,  self-sacrificing  spirit  of  that 
unfortunate  lady  will  perhaps  show 
some  of  her  own  characteristics." 

During  this  period  she  was  pre- 
sented by  her  father  with  a  neat  little 
gold  watch,  which  she  greatly  valued, 
not  only  for  its  own  sake,  but  also 
for  the  sake  of  the  giver.  But  of 
course  she  had  to  take  it  to  Spingler 
to  show  to  her  schoolmates.  After 
returning  from  school  one  afternoon, 
she  missed  it.  Diligent  search  was 
at  once  made,  but  all  in  vain. 
Though  then  perhaps  not  a  Christian, 


THE  SCIIOOL-GIRL.  1 5 

yet  she  knew  well  the  power  of  prayer ; 
for  she  dwelt  in  a  household  where 
prayer   was    much    valued.      So    she 
took  her  trouble  to  the  Lord.       She 
prayed  that  He  who  knew  all  things 
would    point    out    to    her  where  her 
watch  was.      She  followed  up  these 
petitions  with  fresh  efforts  in  the  way 
of  search,  but  still  no  clew  could  be 
found  to  the  missing  article.     Before 
retiring  to  rest  for  the  night,  she  once 
more    committed    the    matter  to   the 
Lord,  and  again  on  rising  in  the  morn- 
ing.     She    started   for  school  at  the 
usual  time,  and  as  she  passed  down 
to  the  street  from  the  front  door,  on 
the  lowest  step,  fast  embedded  in  the 
ice,  lay  her  lost  treasure.     It  certain- 
ly seemed   a   remarkable    answer   to 
prayer;  for  both  in  the  evening  and 


1 6  MEMORIAL. 

again  in  the  morning,  a  great  many 
had  passed  up  and  down  that  thorough- 
fare (Madison  Avenue),  but  their 
eyes  had  been  holden  so  that  they 
should  not  see  what  really  lay  so  con- 
spicuously before  them. 

In  this  little  incident  we  have  the 
key  to  her  subsequent  success  in  the 
service  of  the  Master.  Whenever 
any  trouble  arose,  she  went  and  told 
Jesus.  When  she  was  in  doubt  or 
difficulty,  she  took  both  doubts  and 
difficulties  to  Him.  The  extracts  from 
her  letters  and  journal  in  this  little 
Memorial  show  this,  and  her  life  ex- 
emplified it  still  more  conspicuously. 

Her  attainments  at  school,  without 
being  marked,  were  highly  satisfac- 
tory. I 

There  have  been  preserved  twenty 


THE  SCHOOL-GIRL,  I  7 

of  her  compositions,  neatly  folded, 
and  tied  up  with  a  pink  ribbon. 
These  show  more  facility  in  expres- 
sion and  more  vigor  of  thought  than 
is  usually  found  in  the  writings  of  girls 
at  her  age. 

While  at  school,  the  summer  months 
were  always  spent  at  Lake  Mahopac, 
N.Y. 

Here  she  was  the  leader  in  every 
innocent  frolic,  such  as  making  mo- 
lasses candy,  picking  blackberries, 
enjoying  a  straw  ride,  or  rowing,  as 
the  case  might  be. 

Here  that  remarkable  unselfishness, 
afterwards  so  conspicuous  a  trait  in 
her  character,  began  to  develop  itself. 
She  was  the  universal  favorite  among 
all  the  girls,  —  for  it  was  the  com- 
panionship of  her  own  sex  only  that 
she  souo^ht. 


1 8  MEMORIAL. 

No  letters  of  this  period  have  been 
preserved  to  throve  Hght  on  her  char- 
acter and  employments.  But  all  w^ho 
knew^  her  think  of  her  as  a  warm- 
hearted, loving,  witty,  clever  girl; 
somewhat  of  a  romp,  perhaps,  but  a 
romp  that  never  hurt  any  one's  feel- 
ings, and  was  always  doing  kind 
things  to  others. 


•^©^^s^=©^ 


II. 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN. 


r\N  the  first  Sabbath  in  April,  1858, 
Kate  united  with  the  Madison- 
square  Presbyterian  Church  (Rev. 
Dr.  Adams's) .  Her  Christian  charac- 
ter is  well  expressed  by  the  words  of 
Scripture,  "  The  path  of  the  just  is  as 
the  shining  light  that  shineth  more 
and  more  unto  the  perfect  day."  Its 
sreat  characteristic  was  orrowth.  That 
growth  was  particularly  marked  and 
rapid  in  the  last  year  of  her  life. 

In  1864  her  father  removed  to 
Audubon  Park,  155th  Street.  Here 
she  and  other  members  of  the  family 


2  2  MEMORIAL. 

united  with  the  Presbyterian  Church 
under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Rev.  C. 
A.  Stoddard.  A  strong  bond  of  at- 
tachment soon  sprang  up  between  the 
pastor  and  this  loving  parishioner. 
There  was  here  an  ample  field  for 
Christian  labor.  She  became  imme- 
diately an  earnest  worker  in  the  Sab- 
bath school. 

Twice  a  month  she  invited  her 
scholars  to  her  house,  and  gave  them 
a  little  entertainment  as  well  as  read 
to  them.  It  is  remembered  that 
on  one  occasion,  finding  that  four  of 
her  scholars  wanted  very  much  to 
see  the  panorama  of  Bunyan's  Pil- 
grim's Progress,  then  exhibiting  in  Dr. 
Cheever's  church,  with  no  little  self- 
denial  she  took  them  all  with  her 
to  see  it. 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  23 

Aofain,  hearino^  that  two  of  the  little 
girls  had  never  seen  Broadway  or 
Stewart's  store,  she  took  them  by 
stage  (a  kind  of  conveyance  they 
had  never  travelled  in  before)  down 
Broadway,  and  carefully  showed  them 
all  the  wonders  of  Stewart's,  as  well  as 
took  them  to  the  Egyptian  museum 
at  that  time  on  exhibition. 

One  case  of  a  very  sick  woman  is 
now  vividly  recalled,  whom  she  visited 
every  day,  and  sometimes  twice,  carry- 
ing always  some  delicacy  suited  to  her 
feeble  condition  and  flagging  appe- 
tite. In  fact  she  took  upon  herself 
nearly  the  whole  care  of  this  woman, 
and  was  with  her  when  she  died. 

At  the  funeral  she  led  the  little 
children  by  the  hand,  and  followed  the 
coffin  as  chief  mourner  to  the  grave. 


24 


MEMORIAL. 


About  the  death  of  this  woman  she 
writes,  April  9th,  1865:  — 

"  Poor  Mrs. died  Wednesday 

morning;  so  gently,  so  calmly,  as  if 
going  to  sleep.  Just  before  she  passed 
away  she  opened  her  eyes,  a  sweet 
smile  came  over  her  face,  she  stretched 
out  her  arms,  and  joyfully  whispering, 
^  Happy  J  happy  ^  was  gone.  I  felt 
so  unhappy  before:  I  could  not  rid 
myself  of  the  terrible  thought  I  was 
answerable  for  the  indifference  (if 
such  it  was), —  I  could  not  help  but 
recall  neglected  opportunities.  But 
now  I  am  sure  she  is  with  Jesus. 
Why  did  those  eyes  unclose,  and  the 
smile  come  over  those  wasted  features, 
unless  they  had  seen  that  blessed  face 
looking  down  in  love  and  forgiveness  ? 
What  could    make    her    stretch    out 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  25 

those  poor  thin  arms,  and  exultingly 
cry,  '  Happy,  happy,'  when  the  dark 
river  was  yet  to  be  crossed  alone? 
Alone!  ah,  no!  she  saw  the  Saviour's 
arms  outstretched  to  receive  her,  and 
hastened  to  meet  Him.  Folded  in 
that  loving  embrace,  with  her  head 
pillowed  on  His  bosom,  she  can  utter 
words  of  joy.  Safely  now  the  dark 
river  is  crossed, —  its  waters  did  not 
overflow  her;  up,  up  to  the  pearly 
gates  of  heaven  she  is  borne,  and  as 
they  open  wide  to  receive  her,  there 
the  white-robed  ones  are  waiting  to 
welcome  ^  mother,'  united  never  to 
part  again.  There  at  the  feet  of 
the  Saviour  may  it  be  she  has  found 
that  7?^^/  which  only  He  can  give." 

It  was  proposed  some  time  since  to 
enter  more  earnestly  on  the  work  of 


26  3IE  MORTAL. 

tract  distribution,  and  the  Church 
called  for  volunteers  to  visit  in  certain 
peculiarly  difficult  districts.  Kate 
came  forward  at  once  and  offered  her 
services.  Hers  was  one  of  the  hardest 
to  do,  because  she  had  to  distribute 
them  among  her  own  friends. 

She  never  went  down  town  without 
taking  a  few  little  books  or  tracts  with 
her,  to  give  to  such  children  as  she 
might  meet  on  the  way. 

One  striking  peculiarity  was  her 
thoughtfulness  about  others,  —  her 
desire  to  do  kind  things  to  those  who 
misfht  be  overlooked,  or  those  who 
had  few  friends. 

On  one  occasion,  for  instance,  she 
sent  a  kind  letter  to  a  dress-maker, 
w^ho  had  w^orked  for  her,  accompa- 
nied   by    Dr.  Hall's   admirable    little 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN. 


27 


book,  "  Care  Cast  upon  the  Lord." 
On  being  spoken  to  about  it,  she  re- 
marked that  a  dress-maker's  life  must 
be  so  full  of  trials  and  cares  that  she 
thought  this  little  book  would  be  a 
comfort  to  her. 

Calling  one  day  on  a  neighbor,  she 
learned  through  a  little  child  in  the 
family  that  the  grandmother's  birth- 
day would  be  in  a  few  days.  Kate 
said  nothing  about  it  at  the  time,  but 
when  the  day  arrived,  thinking  that 
the  excellent  old  lady  would  perhaps 
have  no  one  to  remember  the  day, 
outside  of  her  own  family,  sent  her  a 
pot  of  full-blown  roses,  charging  the 
bearer  not  to  tell  who  sent  them. 

A  few  ddivs  after,  she  met  the 
lady's  daughter  in  the  car,  on  the  wa}^ 
to  New  York.     The  latter,  not  sus- 


28  MEMORIAL. 

pecting  Kate's  connection  with  the 
matter,  spoke  of  the  flowers  her  moth- 
er had  received  on  her  birthday, 
and  how  happy  they  had  made  her. 
Kate,  without  thought,  exclaimed, — 
"  I  am  so  orlad  she  Hked  them !  "  and 
then  added,  "  Oh,  I  did  not  mean  to 
tell,  but  please  say  nothing  to  your 
mother  about  it."  Her  wishes  were 
respected,  and  the  aged  servant  of 
Christ  knew  nothing  about  the  giver 
till  after  Kate's  death. 

When  the  war  broke  out,  "  she  used 
to  tell  me,"  says  a  schoolmate,  from 
whose  letter  we  have  already  made 
quotations,  ^~  of  her  desire  to  make 
herself  useful  as  a  nurse  to  the  wound- 
ed soldiers  in  hospital;  and  although 
the  plan  was  not  carried  out,  she  kept 
up  her  interest  in  them,  and  she  re- 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  29 

counted  to  me  the  pleasure  it  gave 
her  to  distribute  magazines  to  them, 
or  to  leave  a  few  choice  flowers  by 
the  pillow  of  a  sleeping  soldier,  so 
that  their  beauty  and  fragrance  might 
cheer  him  when  he  awoke." 

Twice  or  three  times  every  week 
she  visited  the  soldiers'  hospital,  at 
Central  Park.  She  carried  them  jel- 
lies and  other  tempting  viands,  as 
well  as  books,  tracts,  and  flowers; 
and,  what  was  perhaps  best  of  all, 
gave  them  many  loving  words  of 
sympathy  and  encouragement. 

Afterwards  she  received  several 
letters  from  the  convalescents. 

One  of  these  poor  fellows,  in  a 
cramped  hand,  the  words  badly 
spelled,  and  with  little  regard  to  gram- 
mar, says :    "  I  am  writing  to  express 


30 


MEMORIAL. 


the  warm  thanks  I  feel.  You  do  not 
know  the  pleasure  that  them  flowers 
you  gave  me  produced.  I  smell  them 
now,  and  likewise  the  books  that  you 
gave  me.  I  hope  that  you  may  get  your 
reward  in  heaven.  You  are  the  sol- 
dier's friend.  When  you  came  in  the 
ward  and  gave  out  these  flowers  and 
then  said  you  was  sorry  you  had  no 
more  left,  you  gave  me  one  and 
smiled  so  pleasantly." 

Another  one  sent  his  photograph, 
and  says:  "There  is  nothing  that  will 
comfort  a  soldier  so  much  as  kind 
words  from  a  lady.  I  am  happy  to 
say  that  I  am  a  soldier  of  the  cross, 
as  well  as  a  soldier  in  this  war.  I 
may  soon  be  on  my  way  to  the  front, 
to  stand  my  chance  once  more  in  the 
thinned    ranks,   where   once   stood   a 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN. 


31 


thousand  strong.  If  I  go  and  don't 
have  the  pleasure  of  seeing  you,  please 
remember  me  in  your  pra3'Xrs." 

Many  a  poor  home  was  made 
brighter  by  her  friendly  visits;  many 
a  little  want  supplied;  many  a  loving 
word  spoken  for  the  Master,  for 
whose  sake  she  did  it  all. 

She  took  great  delight  in  hanging 
up  on  the  walls  of  the  houses  of  the 
poor,  and  especially  of  the  sick  poor, 
copies  of  the  "  Silent  Comforter," 
which  consists  of  large-type  Scripture 
texts,  and  hymns. 

In  her  attention  to  her  duties  as  a 
servant  of  the  Lord  Jesus,  she  did  not 
overlook  that  intellectual  culture 
which  became  one  in  her  position  and 
with  her  opportunities.  She  acquired 
great  skill  in   drawing  and  painting. 


3  2  MEMORIAL. 

as  the  walls,  alike  of  her  first  home 
and  her  last  one,  attest.  She  also 
contributed  some  interesting^  articles 
to  one  of  the  religious  newspapers. 
Extracts  from  letters  of  this  period 
follow,  illustrative  of  her  Christian 
character.  These  letters  evince  a 
remarkable  devotion  to  duty.  When 
the  question  was  once  settled  what 
she  ought  to  do,  she  lost  no  time  in 
setting  about  it.  She  was  one  of  the 
most  gifted  of  letter-writers.  It  is 
greatly  to  be  regretted  that  that  spark- 
ling wit  with  which  they  overflowed 
was  generally  of  such  a  strictly  per- 
sonal or  private  nature  as  to  forbid 
their  being  printed.  It  must  not  be 
supposed  that  because  these  extracts 
are  largely  of  a  serious  character  that 
there  was  any  thing  sad,  morbid,  or 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  33 

melancholy  in  her  religion.  On  the 
contrary,  she  was,  both  in  conversa- 
tion and  correspondence,  as  all  who 
knew  her  will  testify,  one  of  the  live- 
liest, wittiest,  and  most  entertaining 
of  persons. 

Her  letters  were  many  of  them  not 
only  of  the  most  amusing  sort,  but 
they  were  often  illustrated  with  pen- 
sketches  of  inimitable  drollery. 

In  May,  1866,  her  father,  having 
occasion  to  go  to  St.  Louis  to  attend 
the  General  Assembly,  took  Kate  with 
him  to  Niagara  Falls,  and  after  spend- 
ing some  time  there,  took  her  to  a 
friend's  house  in  Western  Canada 
(now  Ontario),  where  he  left  her  till 
his  return. 

In  a  letter  to  her  mother  she  gives 
some  of  her  experience  in  a  sleeping- 
car,  on  the  outward  trip :  — 


34 


MEMORIAL. 


"While  we  were  quietly  sitting  by 
our  window  the  man  put  his  head 
in:  ^  Want  your  bed  made,  sir?'  Up 
we  jumped,  going  out  into  the  dress- 
ing-room, to  wait  until  it  was  ready. 
I  watched  the  mysterious  proceed- 
ings, —  tumbling  down  shelves,  drag- 
ging out  sheets,  tossing  up  pillows, 
and  all  prepared  in  about  two  min- 
utes. I  looked  with  a  little  trepida- 
tion at  the  size  of  the  room  after  the 
bed  was  made.  It  was  all  bed  from 
window  to  door,  and  from  wall  to 
wall.  I  lay  down  on  the  outside,  en- 
tirely dressed  except  my  hat;  put 
something  between  my  head  and  the 
pillow,  and  wondered  would  I  ever 
sleep  in  that  place.  .  .  . 

"I  lay  staring  awake;   I  could  hear 
the  wheels  scratching  and  groaning, 


THE    YOUNG    WO^fAN.  TfS 

and  hear  the  shriek,  and  feel  the  jerk, 
cHckety  click,  sic,  sic,  sic,  blickety 
blick,  bic,  clic,  clic,  clic;  and  then 
faster,  —  blickelty  blick,  blickelty, 
blickelty,  blickelty,  until  I  wanted  to 
scream.  Somehow  I  did  fall  asleep, 
though  when  I  cannot  conceive;  but 
I  jumped  up  at  every  station,  and 
heard  the  voices  outside  and  baggage 
put  off,  and  the  train  move  on.  It 
must  have  been  near  two  o'clock, 
when  I  felt  this  could  be  endured  no 
longer.  I  sat  up  in  bed  and  thought. 
I  remembered  they  were  all  asleep 
in  that  whole  train.  I  bes^an  to  think 
every  thing  was  asleep  in  the  world, 
—  that  the  world  had  stopped  mov- 
ing, —  that  the  engineer  was  asleep 
too,  and  the  train  was  rushing  off  to 
destruction.        For     a     moment     the 


^6  MEMORIAL. 

thought  was  horrible.  I  wanted  to 
bang  on  the  door  and  wake  ever}^ 
one  up.  Then  I  suddenly  recollected 
the  robber  was  to  come  for  my  rings, 
and  he  ought  to  be  along  soon,  for  it 
was  going  on  to  morning.  I  put 
them  on  the  end  of  my  thumb,  so 
they  might  be  conveniently  stolen 
without  sawing  off  my  fingers, — raised 
up  my  chin  that  he  might  see  my 
breast-pin,  without  hacking  off  my 
head,  —  and  waited.  He  was  asleep, 
too !  Thank  his  blessed  bed  for  that. 
I  felt  cheered;  and,  in  that  sweet  re- 
flection, fell  asleep." 

To  Mr.  Freeman  she  writes  of  the 
following  day's  travel:  — 

"  The  journey  the  next  day  was  per- 
fectly delightful.  Such  a  beautiful 
country,    so   open,    so    wild,    and   so 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  37 

charmingly  picturesque.  The  motion 
of  travelHng  was  so  even  and  smooth 
that  we  glided  rather  than  rushed 
past  the  fields  and  fences.  Now  we 
would  be  hanging  over  a  very  great 
height,  where  right  below  lay  a  lovely 
lake  sweetly  sunny,  and  reflecting  the 
sky  above  us  in  its  clear  blue  surface; 
then,  speeding  past  the  thick,  dark 
wood,  little  openings  now  and  then 
showed  us  the  wood-slides  cut  in  the 
mountain-side;  now  a  quick  curve 
into  a  lovely  table-land,  stretching 
far,  far  away,  and  all  a  bright  golden 
green.  Only  for  a  moment,  though; 
for  with  a  shriek  and  a  snort,  our  wild 
horse  rushes  past  a  wooden  house, 
making  me  involuntarily  draw  back, 
frightened  lest  the  man  at  the  window 
might  suffer.     But  I  look  back,  and 


38  MEMORIAL. 

see  him  smiling  and  tossing  his  hat  in 
welcome,  all  safe.  Here  we  leave  a 
barn,  almost  destroyed,  when  hurrah ! 
we  find  it  again,  as  if  godmother  fairies 
had  granted  the  annual  boon:  oh,  it 
was  glorious,  this  mad  flight  through 
the  air !  And  then  to  go  slower,  slower, 
slower;  to  hear  the  pant  and  pufl",  to 
feel  the  motion,  gentler,  gentler,  and  to 
see  the  train  move  into  the  rural  depot, 
where  would  be  crouching  in  comfort 
on  rude  settles  the  weather-browned 
fathers  of  the  land,  wonderingly  ey- 
ing us  travellers  from  the  great 
^  York.'  How  I  enjoyed  it!  I  have 
thanked  my  father,  who  so  continually 
added  each  moment  to  my  comfort 
and  enjoyment.  But  02cr  Father  in 
Heaven  I  cannot  thank  enough  for  so 
much  happiness,  and  such  a  profusion 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  39 

of  blessings.  I  am  brought  after  every 
mercy  nearer  to  Him.  I  feel  my  own 
sinfulness  and  utter  unworthiness  to 
receive  these  privileges.  Oh!  then 
may  I  live  more  devotedly  for  His  ser- 
vice, and  serve  only  for  His  glory." 

In  the  same  letter  she  gives  her 
impressions  of  Niagara  Falls,  which 
she  saw  now  for  the  first  and  only 
time:  — 

^^  I  cannot  tell  you  how  the  Falls 
affected  me.  They  are  so  awful, 
horrible,  maddening,  the  tremendous 
fall  of  waters!  Nothins:  I  ever  con- 
ceived  is  like  it.  The  rapids  where 
the  water  is  howling,  shrieking,  dash- 
ing over  the  rocks,  rolling  up  in  great 
billows  to  break  in  the  air,  or  to  leap 
into  another,  and  then  struggling  to- 
gether,   go   down,    down,  down    that 


40 


MEMORIAL. 


frightful  fall.  As  I  watched  them  and 
listened  to  the  awful  roar,  I  felt  per- 
fectly fascinated.  I  wanted  to  plunge 
in,  that  I  might  feel  the  great  mystery. 
Then  my  knees  trembled  so  that  I 
sank  down,  crying  and  calling  to 
father  to  come  and  save  me.  Father 
was  so  good,  and  kept  his  arm  around 
me  all  the  while.  With  him  to  hold 
me,  I  could  look  up  and  admire  the 
dizzy  height?  but  my  feeble  knees 
tottered  even  then,  and  I  only  breathed 
freely  when  w^e  were  up  the  long 
stairway  again,  awa}^  from  the  roar 
and  whirl.  It  seemed  like  Hell,  and 
the  rapids  like  those  struggling  to 
o-et  free,  but  too  late  whirled  down 
to  destruction,  and  the  eternal  vol- 
ume of  waters  and  horrible  roar,  like 
an  avenofinor   God.      I  could  not  think 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  4 1 

of  Him  as  the  same  sweet  and  loving 
Jesus  I  wanted  to  please  and  live 
for." 

"The  next  day  I  went  again  with 
father  to  see  the  Falls  in  the  sunlio:ht. 
They  were  too  bewilderingly,  glori- 
ously magnificent  for  me  to  describe: 
the  changing  color,  —  the  soft  white 
spray,  —  the  swift,  steep  fall  of  water. 
God  grant  3^ou  to  see  it  all,  and  to  won- 
der at  the  might  of  our  Father's  power 
to  command  the  waves  and  winds  to 
obey  Him  !  The  rapids  !  Oh,  how 
they  would  delight  you  !  How  they 
danced,  shouted,  roared,  laughed,  and 
frolicked  in  the  greatest  glee;  rising 
high  in  air  to  scatter  spray  mischiev- 
ously, wanting  to  make  us  feel  their 
furious  power;  crashing  over  rocks, 
striking  into  one  another,  madly  strug- 
4 


A  2  3IE MORTAL. 

gling  in  the  air,  then  rushing  different 
ways  to  foam  and  boil  the  water 
everywhere.  Then  to  look  'way  up 
the  lake,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach, 
and  to  see  the  rapids  there  higher  in 
air,  showing  the  gradual  descent  of 
water,  and  clearly  demonstrating  the 
cause  of  the  terrible  rush  of  all  that 
great  gathering  into  one  stupendous 
descent." 

Under  date  of  May  i6,  to  Mr. 
Freeman,  she  says:  — 

"And  now  I  am  in  Canada,  the  land 
of  old  John  Bull.  No  Britainer  am 
/,  though  !  American  from  head  to 
foot;  loyal^  too,  to  the  very  core! 
And  a  strange  life  I  am  living  among 
the  queer  old  Canadian  farmers.  Not 
half-and-half  farmers,  but  real,  true 
farmers:    clean,  though;   every  thing 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  43 

scrupulously   neat,  from   the   kitchen 
floor  to  the  old  man's  cow-byre." 

"Yesterday  afternoon  I  went  to  a 
neighbor's — a  mile  and  a  half  away  — 
to  spend  the  afternoon  and  take  tea.  I 
had  a  splendid  time.  It  is  a  real  farm 
family;  even  the  father  has  never 
been  to  Nezu  York!  But  they  were 
all  so  hospitable  and  intelligent,  and 
treated  me  elegantly.  Just  imagine, 
they  have  a  melodeon,  and  one  of  the 
dauo^hters  takes  lessons  in  sinorino- 1 
Of  course,  I  played,  and  they  were 
delighted,  imagining  I  must  be  Signer 
La  Pokee  I !  There  was  a  crazy- 
looking  man  staying  there,  a  singing- 
master,  and  such  a  funny  man  he  was 
too.  He  was  one  of  that  kind  who^ 
when  they  sit  down,  seem  to  melt 
into  the  legs  of  the   chair,  and   you 


44 


MEMORIAL. 


wonder  where  they  have  gone  to.     I 
don't  know  what  he  thought,  but  he 
laughed    at    every  word   I   said,  and 
seemed  to  enjoy  ^the  New- York  lady' 
very  much.     It    is    a    great  thing  to 
come  from  ^the  States;'  and  here  they 
think    you    something    wonderful    if 
they  hear  you  are  from  ^  New  York.' 
There  was    to  be    a    concert    in    the 
^  Hall '  at  Mount  Hope,  about  three 
miles  from  their  house.     Of  course  I 
must  go  everywhere,  so  off  we  went, 
in  a  pouring  rain  too.     But  I  did  not 
get  wet,  for  it  was  a  covered  wagon, 
and  my  lovely  singing-master  drove 
the  '■  team.''     Over  bridges  and  brooks 
we  went,  until  we  drove  into  a   mite 
of  a  village,  and  up  to  the  hall.     How 
they  stared  at  me  !     I  could  see  the 
voung:   men  nudo^ino^  one   another   to 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  45 

know  who  I  was,  and  then  the  staring 
would  go  on  fiercer  than  ever.  The 
concert  began  very  shortly  after  we 
had  our  seats  in  this  queer  ^  hall,'  and 
do  you  believe  it  was  only  three 
men,  who  sang  quartets,  triplets,  and 
duets  all  together  ?  But  they  did 
have  elegant,  deep  voices,  only  they 
made  up  such  funny  faces,  as  if  they 
smelt  something  very  peculiar." 

Three  days  later  she  thus  describes 
a  scene  in  the  Canadian  woods  in  a 
letter  to  Mr.  Freeman:  — 

"Oh!  it  is  so  perfectly  beautiful 
out  in  the  wild  woods  where  I  am 
now.  I  cannot  describe  to  you  the 
charming  spot  we  have  chosen  in 
which  to  spend  the  day.  It  is  too 
exquisitely  beautiful,  I  am  sitting  on 
a    fallen    tree,    close    by    the    water. 


46  MEMORIAL. 

Very  near  me  is  a  ruined  saw-mill, 
with  the  logs  and  beams  heaped  to- 
gether in  most  picturesque  confusion. 
I  cannot  see  a  house  or  the  faintest 
sign  of  any  habitation.  It  is  all  wild- 
wood  and  green  meadow-land ;  bright 
green :  ok,  suck  a  lovely  green  I  The 
trees  are  not  so  densely  foliaged  but 
that  I  can  look  beyond  to  broader 
fields  and  deeper  w^oods  and  sunnier 
meadows  than  even  this  seems  to  be. 
The  birds  are  singing  loudly  in  the 
branches  overhead.  I  can  hear  the 
squirrels,  and  see  them  besides,  as 
they  run  to  and  fro.  And  now  I  hear 
the  tinkling  of  bells.  How  very  ^ 
rtiral  I  I  look  up  and  see  four  cows 
•coming  down  to  drink  from  my  sweet 
little  brook.  Our  dog  ^  Help  '  sitting 
beside  us  watches  them  for  a  moment; 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN. 


47 


and  then  springing  up,  clashes  over 
the  water,  plunges  into  a  thicket,  and 
is  gone!  ^  He  has  seen  something,' 
Marie  says.  Sure  enough,  with  a 
wild  cry,  a  flock  of  birds  rise  in  the 
air,  wheel  in  circles  for  an  instant, 
and  then  sweep  away  in  the  distance. 
Back  comes  the  rude  invader,  shakes 
off  the  water  in  our  very  faces, 
crouches  down  into  the  most  com- 
fortable position,  and  now  lazily 
closes  his  eyes,  pretending  to  be  very 
innocent.  Oh,  how  I  love  it!  This 
place  is  so  beautiful,  and  yet  so 
grandly  wild.  It  is  all  God  every- 
where, Man  has  not  placed  his  hand 
here.  God  speaks  in  this  very  still- 
ness, and  shows  me  the  worthlessness 
of  man's  invention  compared  to  His 
own  glorious   works.     It  is   just  the 


48  MEMORIAL. 

beautiful  scenery  that  would  charm 
you.  I  think  if  we  were  here  together 
now,  we  would  know  better  how  to 
praise  the  God  who  formed  us,  and 
allows  us,  even  for  a  season,  to  enjoy 
the  delight  of  living  in  such  a  beauti- 
ful world,  —  a  world  defiled  only  by 
sin,  but  which  if  peopled  by  angels 
would  be  almost  heaven." 

To  her  little  sister  during  the  same 
visit  she  writes :  — 

"...  They  have  five  cows,  and  I  go 
out  to  see  them  milked.  Sometimes 
they  almost  kick  the  pail  over,  and 
throw  their  tails  around  so  funnily. 
And  they  have  such  lovel}'  ducks,  that 
say  ^  gabble,  gabble,'  all  day.  And 
such  a  big  dog,  named  Help.  I  was 
afraid  of  him  when  I  first  came,  he 
looked  so  fierce:   I  thought  he  would 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  49 

eat  all  my  bones.  Now  I  am  getting 
used  to  him,  and  I  don't  mind  at  all 
when  he  crawls  under  the  table  at 
dinner  time  and  lies  down  at  my  feet. 
There  is  another  dog,  too,  but  he  is  a 
dear  little  one  named  Judy.  I  am  not 
afraid  of  him.  One  day  I  saw  such  a 
large  pig  in  the  road,  and  what  do 
you  think  ?  There  were  seven  little 
mites  of  pigs  running  after  her.  They 
looked  so  funny  with  their  short  tails 
just  about  as  long  as  your  little  linger, 
all  wriggling  in  the  air;  and  you  don't 
know  how  they  squealed  as  they  ran 
after  their  mother.  I  think  they 
must  have  loved  her  dearly;  but  I 
am  afraid  she  hadn't  punished  them 
enough,  they  were  so  rude  and  un- 
gentlemanly  to  make  such  a  loud 
noise. 


50  MEMORIAL. 

"Oh!  I  must  tell  you  something 
else.  Marie  has  the  loveliest  pet  lamb, 
named  Abraham  Lincoln.  Jessie  has 
another,  named  Jefferson  Davis.  They 
are  so  sweet,  and  as  white  as  snow. 
We  go  in  the  fields  where  they  are, 
and  the  moment  they  see  us  coming, 
down  they  will  scamper  to  meet  us. 
Wasn't  it  too  bad,  Jessie  sold  her 
lamb  to  the  butcher?  She  wanted  to 
keep  him  very  much;  but  then  you 
know  the  money  would  do  her  a  great 
deal  more  good,  and  the  butcher  gave 
her  two  dollars  and  a  half  for  it. 
You  must  ask  Georgie  to  tell  you 
how  many  pennies  this  is.  I  suppose 
the  dear  little  lamb  had  his  cunning 
white  head  taken  of^'  yesterday,  and 
somebody  may  eat  him  by  and  by. 
He  had  an  ugly  name,  didn't  he?  — 
Jeff  Davis. 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  5  I 

"Marie  says  she  will  not  se^  hers; 
so  it  is  very  nice  to  think  that  I  am 
to  have  Abraham  Lincoln  for  my 
friend  while  I  am  in  Canada:  isn't  it? 
I  have  seen  Johnnie  Grey  and  Jessie 
Grey  and  Bessie  Grey  and  Charlie 
Grey.  Jessie  Grey  is  just  like  a  little 
boy.  She  can  climb  fences  and  run 
on  stone  walls  and  do  all  sorts  of 
wild  things,  and  she  is  only  four  years 
old!  She  says  my  name  is  Miss 
Benk-kit.  Isn't  that  a  funny  name 
for  me  ? 

"When  I  was  there  yesterday  she 
had  a  little  gray  pussy  in  her  arms. 
If  it  scratches  her  she  rolls  it  up  in 
the  bedclothes  and  lays  it  in  the 
cradle.  Then  she  rocks  the  cradle 
so  fast  that,  between  the  bedclothes 
and  the  rocking,  the  poor  puss  almost 


5  2  MEMORIAL. 

smothers.  I  think  it  must  be  very 
glad  when  Bessie's  mamma  puts  her 
little  orirl  to  bed  for  the  nio^ht:  don't 
you?  Charlie  is  the  baby,  so  he  does 
nothing  but  crow  and  kick  his  feet 
all  day  long. 

I  miss  you  very  much,  darling;  but 
then  I  try  not  to,  for  God  is  very  good 
to  make  me  so  happy:  isn't  he?  Are 
you  trying  to  be  good,  dear,  too? 
You  mustn't  forget  what  I  told  you 
about  your  prayers.  Remember  not 
to  pra}^  for  to-morrow;  only  to  ask 
God  to  make  you  a  good  little  girl 
for  to-day.  Then  to-night  you  must 
think  what  you  have  done  naughty, 
and  ask  Jesus  to  forgive  it  all.  After- 
wards pray  Him  to  watch  you  safely 
through  the  night,  and  to-morrow  ask 
Jesus  to   love  and  keep  you  through 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  53 

the  day.  Isn't  that  a  nicer  way  than 
to  say  such  long  prayers?  for  Jesus 
would  rather  have  us  tell  Him  all 
what  we  do  naughty,  and  what  we 
want  good:  then  He  can  give  us  all 
we  need  to  make  us  good  Christian 
children.  Be  kind  to  Georme:  won't 
you,  darling  pet?  Remember  Jesus 
is  looking  at  you  all  the  while,  and 
every  time  you  please  Him  you  make 
that  naughty  Satan  go  away  from 
your  heart,  and  the  dear  Jesus  comes 
in.  Be  kind  to  Matilda  too.  You 
know  poor  Matilda's  mother  lives  far 
away  in  Germany.  You  would  feel 
lonely  sometimes  if  your  mother  lived 
there:  wouldn't  you?  So  be  kind  to 
her,  and  Jesus  w^ill  love  you  very 
dearly  if  you  do  every  thing  just 
because  you  want  to  show  Him  how 
dearly  you  love  Him." 


54  MEMORIAL. 

To  a  dear  sister  at  school  she  thus 
writes.  May  14,  1866,  from  Audubon 
Park:  — 

"I  pray  God  to  keep  you  well, 
happy,  and  full  of  His  sweet  Spirit, 
so  that  every  one  in  school  will  love 
you,  and  see  that  3'ou  love  Jesus." 

The  followino:  words  of  encourasre- 
ment  are  addressed  to  the  same  sister 
in  July:  — 

"  I  notice  so  many  times  lately  that 
you  have  given  up  your  own  will  to 
please  others.  Jesus  has  said,  ^  If  any 
man  love  me  let  him  den}^  himself, 
and  take  up  his  cross  and  follow  me.' 
You  may  be  sure  then  that  you  do 
love  Jesus  when  you  deny  yourself, 
and  are  willing  to  suffer  little  annoy- 
ances for  His  sake.  ...  So  you  will 
keep  on   exerting  a  good   influence: 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN. 


55 


won't  you,  dear  sister  ?  Don't  be 
discouraged  if  you  can't  see  any  good 
done.  Remember  Jesus  has  said, 
^Whatsoever  ye  ask,  believing,  you 
shall  receive.'  He  doesn't  say  right 
av^^ay  now.  We  must  believe  it  will 
come  some  time." 

In  July,  1866,  she  spent  two  weeks 
with  her  sister  and  brother-in-law  at 
Stockbridge,  Mass.  She  thus  de- 
scribes her  experience  in  the  boat  for 
Albany :  — 

"  Our  state-room  was  in  the  centre 
of  the  boat  (the  St.  John),  very  com- 
fortable and  every  thing  convenient. 
Mr.  Carter's  was  next,  so  that  made 
us  feel  almost  at  home.  Of  course 
we  were  so  anxious  to  catch  the  first 
glimpse  of  Audubon,  that  our  eyes 
hurried   over  other    objects.     At   last 


5  6  MEMORIAL. 

we  saw  the  Iron  Foundry,  the  River 
House,  and  then  home.  But  oh  we 
were  so  disappointed !  You  didn't 
seem  to  be  there  at  all.  It  looked  like 
so  many  croquet  sticks.  I  mean  black 
winning-posts.  I  only  recognized 
one,  and  that  was  little  Jessie.  ...  I 
saw  father  dip  the  flag,  or  rather 
just  saw  the  flag  dipped,  —  we  could 
not  recognize  any  one.  Emma,  not 
feeling  very  well,  went  to  her  room 
early.  Mr.  Carter  made  a  sweet  little 
prayer  with  her  before  she  went  to 
sleep;  and  then  he  and  I,  like  two 
grave  married  folks,  sat  on  deck, 
peering  out  into  the  dark  waters. 
We  noticed  every  point  of  interest, 
St.  Anthony's  Nose,  Cro'  Nest,  West 
Point,  and  oh  so  many  magnificent 
high  peaks,  almost  mountains,  close 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  57 

to  the  water's  edge !  We  sat  on  deck 
till  it  was  near  ten  o'clock:  another 
prayer  was  said  for  me  as  we  knelt 
down  together  in  the  little  state- 
room, and  then  we  separated  for  the 
night.  I  had  been  in  that  cramped- 
up  place  but  a  few  moments,  when 
Emma  awoke.  She  felt  a  great  deal 
better. 

"The  window  in  our  room  looked 
out  on  something,  we  puzzled  our 
heads  to  find  out  what.  It  looked 
like  a  long  counter.  ...  I  felt  very 
nervous.  I  thought  of  the  sign  reit- 
erated on  every  column  in  the  saloon, 
^  Beware  of  strangers  handsomely 
dressed  who  invite  you  to  play  eu- 
chre.' I  could  see  the  long  counter 
just  outside,  and,  in  imagination,  the 
handsomely  dressed  stranger  stretched 
5 


58  MEMORIAL. 

upon  it  gazing  in  at  us.  ^Emma,'  I 
asked,  ^suppose  that  man  comes  and 
asks  us  to  play,  what  will  you  do?' 
^Oh!'  she  said,  ^play  of  course,'  and 
then  we  both  laughed." 

Ten  days  later  she  writes  to  her 
father  from  Stockbridge :  — 

"I  know  I  am  comins:  home  in  two 
or  three  days,  but  nevertheless  I  must 
write  you  a  few  little  lines.  We 
have  had  a  delightful  visit.  Mr.  Car- 
ter and  Mary  have  taken  us  every- 
where, I  should  think,  and  yet  they  are 
continually  proposing  new  excursions. 
We  walk  and  ride  a  part  of  every 
day,  and  are  getting  so  thoroughly 
acclimated  that  one  would  suppose, 
from  our  healthy  countenances  and 
hearty  appreciation  of  the  Berkshire 
hills,  we  were   children  of  the    soil. 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  59 

Not  only  have  we  become  interested 
in  Stockbridge,  but  also  in  Lenox 
and  Great  Barrington.  We  thought 
Lenox  lovely,  and  the  view  from  the 
Aspinwall  place  grander  than  any  I 
have  seen.  I  should  say  more  beauti- 
ful^—  for  the  valley  below  and  distant 
mountains  are  seen  distinctly  here; 
whereas,  at  Mount  Washington  and 
Catskill,  it  is  their  indistinctness,  and 
the  great  extent  of  country,  far,  far 
below  and  around  you,  that  makes  the 
view  so  grand. 

"Great  Barrington  we  visited  yes- 
terday. The  drive  out  was  delightful, 
by  the  Housatonic  River  the  entire 
way.  I  did  not  go  into  raptures, 
though;  for  the  track  was  close  at  our 
side,  the  cars  were  expected  in  a  little 
time,  and  our  horse  was  terribly  afraid 


6o  MEMORIAL. 

of  the  locomotive.  However,  fast 
driving  brought  us  into  Great  Bar- 
rington  before  the  appearance  of  the 
dreaded  train. 

"We  had  to  leave  in  a  pretty  heavy 
shower,  in  order  to  reach  Stockbridge 
in  time  for  tea;  but  we  had  water- 
proof cloaks,  so  we  drove  home  in 
fine  condition.  It  was  a  much  pleas- 
anter  ride  back,  because  we  left  the 
railway  altogether,  coming  over  Mon- 
ument Mountain. 

"  Sunday  morning  we  attended 
church  in  Stockbridge  village.  It  is 
a  very  large  building,  and  well  filled 
by  the  '  old  families.' 

"I  saw  the  Rev.  Dr.  Field  there; 
and  he  looked  so  finely,  with  that 
beautiful  silver  hair  so  smoothly  fall- 
ing on  his  shoulders. 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  6 1 

"  It  was  through  one  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Field  family  that  Mr. 
Carter  heard,  after  church,  of  the  suc- 
cess of  the  Atlantic  Cable.  I  could 
imagine  the  joy  such  an  event  must 
produce  throughout  all  England  and 
America;  and  I  could  imagine  too 
how  delightedly  you,  dear  father,  must 
have  read  the  thrilling  despatch  that 
the  cable  was  laid,  and  how  earnestly 
you  thanked  God  in  prayer,  and  de- 
sired that  it  might  continue  a  success 
and  a  blessing  to  the  world. 

"  I  wish  I  could  give  you  a  good 
description  of  the  graveyard  we  went 
through  in  Stockbridge.  I  can  only 
give  you  a  faint  one,  for  all  such 
places  must  be  seen  in  order  to  be 
perfectly  appreciated.  It  is  very 
prettily  and   neatly  laid  out,  just  as 


62 


MEMORIAL. 


every  thing  is  in  Massachusetts. 
There  are  many  plain  white  monu- 
ments reared  to  commemorate  our 
Revolutionary  Fathers,  and  by  their 
side  newer  graves  and  fresher  slabs 
to  honor  the  younger  brave  of  the 
Massachusetts  49th.  So  side  by  side 
'76  and  '61  rest  together. 

"What  interested  me  most  was  the 
Sedgwick  burying-ground.  This  is 
portioned  off  entirely  from  the  other 
part.  In  the  centre  is  a  large  column 
to  the  memory  of  the  father,  while 
clustered  round  it  are  the  children 
and  grandchildren.  There  was  one 
very  pretty  grave:  the  head-piece 
was  a  brown-stone  cross,  and  around 
the  centre  part  a  plain  belt  of  the 
same  stone  with  just  the  name  ^ Helen,' 
while  at  the  foot  was  a  brown-stone 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  6^ 

dog  beautifully  carved,  and  sitting  just 
as  if  in  life.  On  the  collar  was  the 
name  ^Grip.'  It  seems  the  dog  loved 
little  Helen  very  dearly.  It  w^as  such 
a  pretty  idea,  and  made  the  tears  come 
w^hen  looking  at  it. 

"  Right  in  among  the  family  names 
was  a  bright  white  stone,  and  on  it 
^Elizabeth  Freeman,  known  as  Mum- 
Bet.'  And  then  it  said  that  she  had 
been  for  thirty  years  of  her  life  an 
African  slave,  —  that  she  had  never 
neglected  a  duty,  never  violated  a 
trust.  Such  a  beautiful  eulogy  to  the 
Christian  life  of  that  bondwoman, 
that  I  almost  envied  her  such  a  life. 
It  seemed  as  if  her  life  should  be  a 
lesson  to  us,  that  if  an  African  slave 
could  be  such  a  Christian,  how  much 
must  God  expect  from  us  living  under 
such  different  circumstances." 


64  MEMORIAL.  * 

A  highly  cultivated  ladj^  the  wife 
of  a  Presbyterian  clergyman,  in  north- 
ern Illinois,  who  was  very  intimate 
with  Kate,  writes  thus,  under  date  of 
March  20,  1870:  — 

"  On  my  last  visit  to  her  father's 
house,  a  sympathy  sprang  up  between 
us  from  the  fact  that  she  was  expect- 
ing to  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
a  pastor's  wife.  We  talked  over  its 
blessings,  its  duties,  and  its  trials. 
She  expressed  an  entire  willingness 
to  leave  her  delightful,  happy  home, 
and  work  for  Jesus  anywhere. 

"  The  last  morning  I  spent  in  that 
beautiful  home,  the  bell  rang  for 
prayers.  (Her  father  had  been  called 
away  the  day  previous  on  business.) 
As  I  entered  the  dining-room,  I  found 
the    family  all    assembled    (fifteen  of 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  65 

us),  including  the  servants  and  coach- 
man, and  dear  Kate  in  her  father's 
accustomed  seat,  with  the  Bible,  from 
which  she  read  a  chapter,  and  then 
knelt  and  offered  up  a  prayer,  so  full 
of  love,  so  appropriate  to  each  of  our 
cases,  so  full  of  trust  and  confidence 
in  the  precious  promises  of  God,  that 
I  could  not  but  admire  the  noble  girl 
whose  piety  shone  so  brightly.  None 
could  help  feeling  that  she  had  been 
with  Jesus,  and  learned  of  Him." 

This  was  not  a  solitary  instance  of 
taking  her  father's  place  in  his  ab- 
sence, but  her  constant  habit,  through 
many  years. 

The  following  letter  from  Kate  was 
addressed  to  this  excellent  lady,  under 
date  of  Dec.  14th,  1866:  — 

"  Father   is  very  well,  and  just  as 


66  MEMORIAL. 

strongly  pre-millennial  as  ever.  Of 
course  we  have  the  benefit  of  his 
careful  researches  at  morning  prayers. 
Sometimes  it  is  about  ^  going  up,'  or 
the  rapid  decline  of  the  Papal  power. 
Yesterday  morning  he  told  us  that 
the  Pope  had  gone  to  some  place,  I 
forget  the  name;  and  father  spoke  so 
excitedly  of  the  horrors  of  such  a 
system,  that  the  coachman  rolled  his 
eyes  around  wildly,  and  squeezed  his 
chair  close  to  the  wall,  as  if  he  feared 
the  Pope  might  cram  in  behind  him. 

"No  matter  what  horrible  event 
might  occur,  it  would  be  to  father 
nothing  but  a  glorious  fulfilment  of 
the  prophecies.  But  he  is  such  a 
good  man,  such  a  darling  father,  and 
such  a  perfectly  beautiful  Christian, 
that  everybody  loves  him,  even  our 
old  cat. 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  67 

"  He  has  taken  up  (father,  —  not  the 
^  old  cat '  ^)  Revelation  now,  as  a 
study  in  his  Bible  class;  the  exposi- 
tions are  certainly  most  thrillingly 
interesting:  every  verse  seems  to 
speak  for  itself.  .  .  . 

"  I  could  not  help  loving  that  good 
man,  your  husband,  when  I  heard 
you  relate  those  stories  of  hospital 
life,  and  what  he  did  to  relieve  the 
suffering  of  the  poor  soldiers.  .  .  . 
Give  him  the  books  I  send.  I  would 
like  to  send  him  a  whole  library  full. 
I    know  the  little  I  do  give  will  be 


*  This  parenthesis  is  not  so  unnecessary  as  a 
stranger  might  suppose;  for  Dr.  Faustus,  as  this 
great,  wise,  and  companionable  household  favorite 
was  called,  was  no  ordinary  cat.  He  lived  to  ex- 
treme old  age,  and  his  portrait,  life-size,  painted  bj 
Kate's  skilful  hand,  remains  to  commemorate  his 
virtues. 


68  MEMORIAL. 

blessed  to  him,  as  I  give  it  from  love 
to  Jesus;  and  given  with  that  love  in 
the  heart  to  one  whose  sole  aim  is  to 
do  the  greatest  amount  of  good,  I  do 
feel  that  the  Saviour  will  make  the 
gift  a  useful  one.  .  .  . 

"The  weather  has  been  very  cold, 
—  very  cold  indeed.  I  don't  know 
what  I  should  do  to  live  on  a  prairie. 
.  .  .  Just  wait,  dear  Mrs.  C,  till  our 
parsonages  join,  and  then  see  if  I  am 
not  a  good  neighbor;  running  in 
every  moment  of  the  da}^,  at  the  very 
times  you  are  the  most  busy,  and  have 
to  wish  ^  she  would  stay  at  home.' " 

To  the  same  lad}^,  Jan.  7,  1867,  she 
writes:  — 

"  I  am  so  glad  your  husband  was 
pleased  with  the  books,  —  dear,  good 
man.       If  I   could   only   give   him   a 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  69 

line  church,  parsonage,  and  five  thou- 
sand dollars  a  year,  that  would  be 
worth  thanking  me  for.  But  I  want 
to  be  remembered  in  his  prayers.  I 
long  to  become  like  Jesus  ;  and,  as 
I  remember  that  the  prayers  of  the 
righteous  avail  much  with  God,  I 
shall  be  a  million-fold  repaid  if  he 
will  take  me  with  him  sometimes  to 
the  throne  of  grace,  and  ask  the  bless- 
ed Saviour  to  make  me  every  thing 
needed  in  my  future  work. 

"What  very  cold  weather  you  must 
have,  —  the  thermometer  two  degrees 
above  zero!  I  should  think  those 
prairie  hens,  so  famed  there,  and  so 
exceedingly  delicate  here,  would  be 
frozen  to  death.  How  I  would  love 
to  see  a  prairie!  I  cannot  imagine 
one.       Sometimes    I    picture    out    an 


70  MEMORIAL. 

immense,  barren  plain,  perfectly  cov- 
ered with  hens  and  chickens;  and 
then,  out  of  pity  for  the  poor  creat- 
ures with  no  roost,  I  have  to  lay  out 
a  number  of  forest  trees,  and  a  com- 
fortable rail  fence.  .  .  . 

"  Dear  father  is  just  as  much  inter- 
ested in  the  prophecies  as  ever.  I 
could  not  begin  to  tell  you  the  num- 
ber of  pamphlets  and  books  he  has 
upon  pre-millenarianism.  They  have 
each  a  different  name  ;  and  yet  the 
contents  seem  so  much  the  same  that 
I  should  think  one  person  had  written 
them  all.  One  drawer  in  his  desk 
looks  positively  frightful.  As  you 
open  it,  enormous  headings  stare  into 
your  face,  and  on  the  cover  of  one  is 
the  funniest  picture,  representing  the 
great  battle.     There  are  Turks  rush- 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  7  I 

ino^  across  the  desert  on  foamino^ 
steeds,  and  the  greatest  confusion 
everywhere,  brought  out  more  boldly 
by  a  threatening  sky.  I  had  to  laugh, 
and  father  laughed  too,  at  the  idea  of 
representing  such  a  scene.  ...  I  do 
not  mean  any  thing  wrong:  I  believe 
most  certainly  what  father  believes, 
but  I  am  content  to  rest  there.  I  really 
am  perplexed  when  I  read  so  many 
persons'  opinions. 

"  I  think  if  we  love  our  Saviour 
with  all  our  heart,  and  try  faithfully 
to  serve  him,  if  we  hold  the  things 
of  earth  very  slightly,  and  ^  have  our 
conversation  in  heaven,  from  whence 
also  we  look  for  His  appearing,'  it 
ought  not  to  trouble  us  when  He  shall 
come.  All  Jesus  asks  is  to  have  us 
ready  to  meet  Him. 


72  ME  MORTAL. 

"And  besides,  this  way  of  bringing 
the  ^time,  times,  and  half  a  time' 
near  makes  me  feel  I  will  not  buy 
any  more  things  than  I  absolutely 
need,  and  so  I  put  off  and  put  off  get- 
ting what  I  want,  going  round  the 
house  dressed  like  a  Randall's-island- 
er.  Then  when  John  comes  home  I 
look  at  him  with  great,  wistful  eyes, 
and  think,  ...  I  do  want  to  be  your 
wife,  how  I  would  love  to  work 
with  you  in  the  ministry ;  but  that 
drawer  full  of  books  and  that  alarm- 
ing battle-scene  knock  away  my  de- 
lightful hope,  and  I  have  to  give  a 
long  sigh." 

A  few  months  later,  to  the  same 
lady,  she  writes:  — 

"  I    was     perfectly    delighted    with 
your  last  letter,  telling  me  about  the 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  73 

parsonage,  and  looking  at  the  con- 
templated plan.  The  only  sadness  I 
felt  after  reading  it  was  that  I  could 
not  be  Mrs.  George  Peabody  for  an 
hour,  and  give  you  the  required  sum, 
and  a  great  deal  more." 

To  a  sister  at  school,  January   lo, 
1867,  she  playfully  says:  — 
^    "  Georgia  is  getting  along  finely  in 
his  lessons.     As  for  geology,  he   can 
tell  just  how  old  all  the   dirt  is  in  the 
garden,  and  what  age  it  flourished  in. 
Our  gravel  appeared  first  in  the  Ston- 
crean  age,  and  the  catnip-bushes  at- 
tained their  greatest  grandeur  in  the 
Cataluvian  age,  just  before  man  came." 
And  again,  on  the  17th, — 
..."  Hasn't  this  been  a  very  wild 
day?     I  wish  you  could  see  the  Park. 
It  has  drifted  in  great  piles,  looking 
6 


74  3IEM0RIAL. 

like  hills  of  snow.  Father  says  he 
does  not  remember  such  a  storm  since 
he  was  a  boy." 

Under  date  of  March  ii,  1867, 
she  thus  urges  the  same  sister,  in 
whose  spiritual  welfare  she  took  a  very 
warm  interest,  to  make  a  profession  of 
Christ  before  men :  — 

"  I  know  the  dear  Saviour  loves  3^ou, 
and  has  given  you  His  Spirit.  And 
now,  dear  sister,  would  you  not  love 
to  confess  Him  before  every  one.'^ 
Father  and  mother  are  sure  you  love 
them,  but  they  are  pleased  when  you 
tell  them  so;  and  don't  you  believe 
the  blessed  Saviour  would  love  to 
have  you  tell  Him?  .  .  .  When  you 
think  of  what  He  did  for  you,  won't 
you  do  the  one  thing  He  wants  most 
of  all,  —  confess  Him  before  men  ?  .  .  . 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  75 

Think  of  the  reward  Jesus  promises, 
^They  shall  be  mine  in  that  day  when  I 
make  up  my  Jewels.'  Think  of  Christ 
owning  you  then,  telling  His  Father 
and  all  the  angels  you  are  His. 

"  Our  communion  is  the  second  Sun- 
day in  April.  I  thought  you  would 
be  at  home  then,  and  perhaps  you 
might  be  willing  to  unite  with  the 
Church.  Don't  mind  if  your  poor 
little  heart  beats  fast  as  you  think  of 
it.     Christ  will  be  with  you. 

"  Do  not  be  afraid  that  you  may  not 
live  consistently  afterwards.  Just  trust 
Jesus,  darling.  He  has  promised  to 
help  you;  and  those  who  have  once 
belonged  to  Christ,  He  says  no  one  is 
able  to  pluck  out  of  His  hand. 

•  •  •  "No  one  knows,  dear  sister, 
what   I    have    written,  —  no  one   but 


76  MEMORIAL. 

Jesus.  Won't  you  honor  Jesus  and  own 
Him  at  the  next  communion?  I  will 
strengthen  you  all  I  can.  I  will  go 
with  you  before  the  Session,  and  that, 
3^ou  know,  is  composed  in  our  church 
of  only  the  minister  and  two  elders, 
and  I  will  stand  by  you  when  you 
confess  His  name." 

It  is  very  pleasant  to  add,  that  her 
wishes  in  this  matter  were  complied 
with  by  her  sister,  and  the  two,  side 
by  side,  commemorated  together  the 
dying  love  of  our  Blessed  Lord. 

She  adds  the  following  words  of 
encouragement  a  few  days  later 
(March  20th)  :  — 

"Jesus  will  take  the  very  best  care  of 
His  own.    Why,  has  He  not  promised 
that   all   things   shall  ^work  together 
for  good  to   them   who   love  Him'.^ 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN. 


77 


For  good! — just  think,  for  good!  — 
trials,  persecutions,  suffering,  all  for 
good.  It  doesn't  seem  hard  to  be  a 
Christian:  why,  I  think  it  is  the  most 
delightful  kind  of  happiness, — you  feel 
so  peaceful  all  the  while.  To  be  sure, 
we  must  take  up  the  cross;  but  what 
is  that  to  bear,  when  the  Saviour 
lightens  the  load  by  bearing  it  for  us  ? 
We  must  bear  His  yoke,  but  then  the 
yoke  He  puts  upon  us  is  lined  with 
love. 

"  I  suppose  when  we  get  to  Heaven 
and  receive  the  crown,  we  will  not 
think  our  cross  was  too  heavy  then. 
It  seems  to  me  that  we  will  wish  we 
had  done  a  great  deal  more  for  Jesus, 
that  we  might  feel  more  w^orthy  of 
enjoying  the  beautiful  things  He  re- 
serves for  them  that  love  Him." 


78  MEMORIAL. 

A  few  months  later  she  writes* to  the 
same  sister, — 

"Just  try  to  please  Him,  dear;  never 
mind  what  others  think  of  you.  Jesus 
will  make  you  exert  a  good  influence 
over  them,  though  3^ou  may  not  see 
the  effects.  And  if  3^ou  never  see  it 
on  earth,  think  how  sweet  it  may  be 
in  Heaven  when  Jesus  shall  tell  you 
of  some  one  who  might  not  have  been 
there  had  it  not  been  for  you." 

She  kept  a  journal,  beginning  May 
20,  1867.  She  made  entries  in  it 
with  considerable  regularity  through 
1867  and  '8.  It  was  omitted  during 
1869,  but  began  again  in  1870. 

We  regret  that  our  space  will  only 
allow  of  a  few  brief  extracts. 

On  May  24,  1867,  is  the  following 
entry :  — 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  79 

"  Had  an  invitation  to  attend  an 
entertainment  for  the  benefit  of  a 
Sunday  school  in  Yonkers.  Oh,  how 
I  long  to  go!  I  know  I  murmured 
because  my  tract  distribution  would 
prevent  me. 

"  Prayed  God  to  bless  the  distribu- 
tion of  my  tracts  before  I  went  out 
with  them.  Every  one  received 
them  kindly.  I  have  not  grown  in 
grace  t9-day.  I  have  been  discon- 
tented with  my  life.  Others  seem  to 
have  so  much  enjoyment  on  this 
lovely  day,  and  my  work  seemed  such 
drudgery,  I  forgot  I  was  doing  my 
Father's  work.  I  forgot  the  reward 
He  promises,  and  yet  I  would  rather 
forget  that  than  lose  the  deeper  mo- 
tive of  doing  all  from  love  to  Jesus. 
Oh  the  yearnings  and  strivings  to  be 


8o  MEMORIAL. 

like  Jesus !  and  bitter,  bitter,  are  the 
tears  I  shed  over  failures  and  disap- 
pointments. It  is  trul}^  only  in 
Mooking  to  Jesus'  that  I  gain  strength 
and  hope  to  go  on." 

"  May  30. 

"  I  have  done  a  great  amount  of 
copying  to-day,  but  then  that  w^as 
General-Assembly  matters  for  dear 
father.  I  didn't  mind  it  a  bit,  for  it  is 
a  perfect  pleasure  to  do  any  thing  for 
such  a  dear,  good  man;  and  I  pray 
God  that  I  may  have  every  oppor- 
tunity given  me  to  help  father,  even 
if  he  never  knows  I  did  it." 

"  Sabbath,  June  2. 

"  I  felt  very  earnest  speaking  to  the 
children  at  Sabbath  school  of  the  Sa- 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  8 1 

viour's  love.  It  seemed  to  me  that  I 
could  not  let  one  child  go  home  with- 
out making  them  tell  me  that  they 
did  love  Him.  Oh  I  must  have  them 
Christians  !  I  must  indeed  pray  more, 
w^ork  more,  and  find  opportunities  to 
speak  to  them  directly  about  Jesus. 
It  must  not  be  that  these  souls  shall 
be  lost  through  my  negligence." 

"July  14. 

"To  me  the  communion  w^as  a  very 
joyful  season,  though  I  trembled  w^hen 
I  saw  the  bread  coming  towards  me: 
I  felt  so  unworthy  to  touch  it.  But 
the  next  moment  I  remembered  that 
Christ  wanted  me  to  come  ^just  as  I 
am,'  and  though  I  was  doing  nothing 
for  Him,  I  felt  with  Peter,  ^Lord,  Thou 
knowest  that  I  love  Thee,'  for  I  do 


82  MEMORIAL. 

love  Jesus  with  all  my  heart.  I  am 
willing  to  give  up  every  thing,  and 
will  do  any  thing  for  His  sake.  All 
through  the  day  I  find  myself  saying, 
^  Lord,  what  wilt  Thou  have  me  do  ? ' 
Use  me  in  some  way,  any  way,  but, 
oh,  let  me  feel  You  think  me  worthy 
to  work  for  You!  Let  it  be  in  little 
things,  that  no  one  sees  but  You;  and 
may  I  expect  no  commendation  from 
any  one,  satisfied  if  I  feel  within  me 
love,  joy,  and  peace,  blessed  fruits  of 
the  Spirit." 

"July  25. 

"My  dear,  dear  Saviour,  I  am  all 
Thine,  —  use  me,  —  do  with  me  as 
seemeth  good  to  Thee:  only  draw 
me  nearer,  nearer." 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  83 

"  Sept.  15. 

"  I  had  a  sweet  time  in  prayer.  I 
felt  Jesus  was  with  me,  right  by  my 
side.  Oh,  when  I  have  such  glimpses 
of  His  beauty,  His  love,  and  His 
tender  mercy,  I  long  to  go  right  to 
Him,  and  throw  my  arms  round  His 
neck  and  stay  there  for  ever!  I  cannot 
believe  I  will  ever  want  to  leave  Him 
in  heaven.  It  seems  to  me  that 
through  all  eternity  I  will  want  to  be 
kissing  those  dear  hands  and  feet, 
and  cry  over  them  to  think  how  sweet 
He  was  to  die  for  me;  but  I  know  in 
that  land  there  will  be  no  tears  shed, 
and  yet  it  would  be  so  sweet  to  have 
Jesus  wipe  away  mine  with  His  own 
hand.  Dear,  dear  Jesus!  Can  I  ever 
love  Him  enough,  or  live  so  as  to 
glorify  His  name  ?    Saviour,  help  me." 


84  MEMORIAL. 

"Jan.  27,  1868. 

"Mrs.  L.  has  instituted  a  female 
prayer-meeting.  I  feel  timid,  fearing 
I  may  have  to  take  part;  but  I  want 
to  leave  it  all  to  God,  and  pray  for 
strength  when  the  time  comes." 

Three  days  later  she  writes  thus  of 
the  first  meetino^:  — 

"  I  wish  I  could  describe  the  meet- 
ing. Mrs.  Y.  conducted  the  exer- 
cises. First  she  made  a  prayer,  then 
we  sang  the  hymn,  — 

'  How  blest  the  tie  that  binds.' 

Afterwards  she  asked  Mrs.  L.  and 
Mrs.  S.  to  pray.  Oh,  what  beautiful 
prayers  they  both  made!  I  listened 
astonished.  I  thought,  God  is  surely 
helping  them,  and  I  know  He  will 
help  me.  I  wondered  how  they  could 
be  so  calm;    but    I  saw  when    they 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  85 

arose  that  their  cheeks  had  bright  red 
spots  on  them,  so  I  felt  encouraged,  if 
I  was  called  upon,  to  attempt  it. 
Mrs.  Y.,  after  reading  some  extracts 
on  the  power  of  prayer,  asked  me, 
would  I  pray.  I  said,  ^I  will  try.' 
I  knelt  down,  and,  glory  to  God,  I  did 
pray.  The  words  came:  I  did  not 
falter.  All  the  way  through  I  was 
helped:  the  tears  are  coming  while  I 
write;  it  was  so  good  in  God.  Oh, 
how  I  trembled!  I  felt  my  body 
shaking  from  head  to  foot.  When  I 
arose  I  felt  I  had  passed  through  a 
fiery  trial;  but,  thanks  be  to  God,  I 
gained  the  victory  through  Christ." 

A  lady  who  was  one  of  the  main 
supports  of  this  meeting  speaks  thus 
of  Kate's  connection  with  it:  — 

"I  knew  and  loved  Kate    best   in 


86  MEMORIAL. 

the  little  praying  circle,  where  she  so 
often  met  us  for  a  year  or  longer 
before  her  marriage.  We  all  were 
much  impressed  with  the  peculiar 
directness  and  simplicity  of  her  peti- 
tions, and  how  naturally,  with  child- 
like trust,  she  talked  with  Jesus.  It 
was  usual  for  us  there  to  speak  for 
one  another  in  prayer,  and  say  we 
ask  —  give  us.  But  often  when  Kate 
led  our  petitions,  after  one  or  two  de- 
corous sentences,  in  which  she  evi- 
dently felt  oppressed  by  the  presence 
of  others,  as  she  approached  her 
Saviour,  she  would  lose  this  con- 
sciousness, drop  the  formal  ^Thee' 
and  ^  Thou,'  and  in  her  rapid,  earnest 
way  would  talk  as  friend  talks  with 
friend:  ^Dear,  precious  Jesus,  keep 
always   near    my   side,  —  yes,  in    my 


THE    YOUNG    WOMAN.  87 

heart,  —  and  then  I  never  can  forget; 
for  You  know  I  would  not  willingly 
do  wrong,  my  dearest  Jesus.'  Once 
after  her  marriage  she  was  with  us, 
and  then  I  recall  her  as  she  joined  in 
the  hymn,  — 

*  Jesus,  Lover  of  my  soul, 

Let  me  to  Thy  bosom  fly ; 
While  the  billows  near  me  roll, 
While  the  tempest  still  is  high.' 

Little  could  we  think  then  that  she 
in  her  freshness  and  strength  would 
be  the  first  of  our  circle  to  reach  the 
haven.  Every  one  of  us  had  seen 
more  of  sorrow  and  toil  than  she. 
One  had  spent  long  years  as  a  mis- 
sionary in  a  foreign  land,  —  another 
had  labored  a  score  of  years  in  the 
service  of  Christ  at  home, — and  some 
of   us,    though   younger   than    these, 


88  MEMORIAL. 

have  long  tried  to  fight  the  good 
fight,  and  have  again  and  again  been 
overshadowed  by  sorrows  Christ  has 
sent.  Yet  she  was  the  nearest  Jesus: 
her  walk  was  close  with  Him;  and 
He  loved  her  so,  He  took  her  to  Him- 
self. Even  as  when  on  earth  He 
wept  for  the  friend  He  loved,  and 
called  him  back  to  His  companion- 
ship, so  He  longed  for  this  sister  who 
cherished  her  Saviour  so  fondly,  and 
He  took  her  home.  Jesus ^  ^  the 
sweetest  word  on  mortal  tongue,'  was 
ever  on  her  lips  in  prayer  and  praise; 
and  Jesus^  ^  the  sweetest  word  in 
seraph's  song,'  will  be  her  joyful 
theme  for  ever." 


III. 


THE    MINISTER'S    WIFE. 


/^N  the  17th  June,  1868,  Kate  was 
married,  at  her  fathers  resi- 
dence, to  the  Rev.  John  Newton 
Freeman,  the  newly  elected  pastor 
of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  at 
Peekskill,  N.Y.  The  ceremony  was 
performed  by  her  pastor,  the  Rev.  C. 
A.  Stoddard;  the  Rev.  John  How- 
ard Smith,  of  the  Episcopal  Church, 
offered  the  prayer.  The  ceremony 
was  at  one  o'clock,  on  one  of  June's 
balmiest  days.  Audubon  Park  never 
looked  more  beautiful  than  it  did  that 
day;  and  the  pleasant  little  company 


ME2I0RIAL. 


assembled  agreed  that  it  was  an  aus- 
picious beginning  of  her  new  life. 

Anticipating  this  event,  she  writes 
to  the  pastor's  wife,  in  Illinois,  from 
whose  letters  we  have  already  given 
several  extracts :  — 

"  I  look  forward  to  my  home  at 
Peekskill  with  a  little  trembling,  be- 
cause of  m}^  responsibilities  as  the 
wife  of  the  minister;  and  yet  I  am 
very  hopeful,  because  I  take  Christ 
at  His  word  and  have  Him  to  lean 
upon.  Isn't  it  the  sweetest  kind  of 
peace  to  trust  Jesus?  The  darkest 
trouble  and  heaviest  care  are  nothing 
when  laid  upon  Him.  I  have  found 
lately  that  the  moment  I  begin  to 
worry,  if  I  go  right  to  Jesus  and 
tell  Him  that  I  do  not  want  to  have 
the  thing  trouble  me,   I  feel    instant 


THE  MINISTER'S  WIFE.  93 

relief.  .  .  .  Lately  I  have  been  un- 
happy because  my  life  seemed  so  inac- 
tive. I  could  do  nothing  for  Jesus 
without  having  a  terrible  headache  or 
feeling  tired  out.  I  do  not  feel  sad 
now,  because  I  have  been  reading  a 
sweet  piece  which  comforted  me  very 
much.  It  says  that  it  is  just  as  much 
work  for  Christ  to  remain  inactive  as 
to  be  continually  occupied;  and  very 
often  we  glorify  God  more  by  suffer- 
ing patiently  and  waiting  quietly,  than 
when  engaged  in  the  work  we  love 
to  do.  I  feel  now  that  I  am  willing 
to  do  or  be  any  thing  Christ  thinks 
best." 

And  again,  to  the  same  lady,  about 
a  month  before  the  wedding:  — 

"  Our  home  is  looking  lovely  now, 
the   trees   are   leafing  so  beautifully; 


94  MEMORIAL. 

but  I  am  not  one  bit  sad  to  leave 
it.  ...  I  love  the  M^ork  in  which  my 
life  is  to  be  spent.  I  love  it  with 
all  my  soul.  I  want  to  consecrate 
myself  entirely  to  it.  I  pray  to  have 
such  a  burning  desire  to  save  souls 
that  all  other  things  shall  appear  of 
little  consequence.  God  knows  I  am 
ignorant  of  the  duties  called  for  in 
such  a  work,  but  I  am  willing  to  learn 
them.  .  .  .  O  Mrs.  C,  won't  you  and 
your  dear  husband  ask  God  to  show 
me  the  way  clearly?  I  need,  so  much, 
wisdom  from  above.  .  .  .  You  must 
put  the  little  card  enclosed  in  your 
looking-glass.  You  will  be  sur- 
prised to  find  how  many  a  heart- 
ache it  will  save  you.  Indeed, 
looking  up  does  bring  down  the 
blessing." 


THE  MINISTERS  WIFE. 


95 


This  card  read,  —  "  If  you  want  to 
be  miserable,  look  within.  If  you 
want  to  be  distracted,  look  around. 
If  you  want  to  be  happy,  look  to 
Christ." 

While  somewhat  anxious  about 
the  new  duties  so  soon  to  devolve 
upon  her  as  a  minister's  wife,  she  de- 
rived great  comfort  from  attending 
Rev.  Dr.  John  Hall's  Bible  class  one 
Saturday  afternoon,  when  in  New 
York.  His  subject  was  the  call  of 
Moses  to  be  the  deliverer  of  Israel 
from  Egyptian  bondage,  and  his 
doubts  and  difficulties  in  view  of  that 
great  work.  The  good  doctor  little 
thought,  as  he  discoursed  in  his  prac- 
tical and  earnest  way,  applying  Mo- 
ses' difficulties  to  those  in  every-day 
life,  that   he  was  comforting  one  of 


g6  MEMORIAL. 

the  Lord's  children,  unknown  to  him, 
but  well  known  to  the  loving  Master 
whom  both  served,  —  outside,  it  is 
true,  of  the  doctor's  own  flock,  but 
included  in  that  greater  fold  of  which 
Jesus  himself  is  the  Shepherd. 

Instead  of  going  away  on  a  mar- 
riage trip,  she  preferred  to  go  direct 
from  her  father's  house  to  her  new 
home  and  untried  labor  at  Peekskill. 
The  house  was  all  furnished,  read}^ 
for  their  use,  by  her  parents,  so  they 
had  only  to  enter  and  occupy.  It 
was  full  of  beautiful  things,  and 
was  kept  by  the  3''oung  housekeeper 
with  scrupulous  neatness  and  order. 
Though  the  Lord  called  her  so 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly  from  us, 
yet  after  her  death  her  things  were 
found    as    perfectly    arranged,    every 


THE  MINISTER'S   WIFE. 


97 


article  as  neatly  folded,  as  if  she  had 
anticipated  her  sudden  removal,  and 
had  made  every  arrangement  accord- 
ingly. 

In  a  letter  of  consolation  to  a  dear 
friend  bereaved  of  an  only  child,  she 
writes,  — 

"  Though  you  may  look  up  through 
blinding  tears,  I  know  you  say  from 
the  depth  of  your  heart,  ^  It  is  well.' 
May  God  bring  you  out  from  this 
trial  more  hol}^,  more  into  His  like- 
ness! and  you  know  a  Father's  hand 
will  one  day  wipe  away  all  tears,  and 
a  Father's  home  will  re-unite  all 
parted  ones." 

To  her  western  correspondent, 
April  19, 1869,  she  writes  from  Peeks- 
kill:— 

"Father  and   mother   spent  a  Sun- 


98  MEMORIAL, 

day  with  us  about  three  weeks  ago. 
Father  spoke  for  a  Sabbath  school 
here  in  the  afternoon,  and  afterwards 
occupied  Mr.  Freeman's  pulpit,  giving 
us  a  grand  explanation  of  the  Parable 
of  the  Laborers  in  the  Vineyard.  Oh, 
how  I  enjoyed  it,  it  was  so  like  the 
old  home  days;  and  you  may  be  sure 
if  it  was  right  I  was  proud  of  my 
father.  In  the  evening  father  spoke 
by  invitation  in  the  New-School 
church.  It  was  just  as  interesting  as 
the  afternoon  service.  I  do  think  he 
is  a  wonderful  man." 

To  her  mother  she  writes,  February 
4,  1869:  — 

"  It  was  so  pleasant  to  have  a  letter 
from  3'OU  last  night!  I  liad  not  ex- 
pected you  to  write  to  me  this 
week;    so   it  was    a  double  surprise. 


THE  MINISTERS  WIFE. 


99 


It  does  seem  a  long  time  since  I  was 
at  home,  because  I  had  no  visit  with 
yo2c,  I  must  come  soon  again,  so  that 
we  can  have  one  of  our  old-fashioned 
talks  together.  So  E.  has  returned: 
I  am  real  glad  that  she  is  better. 
When  the  weather  gets  milder  I 
would  love  to  have  her  visit  me,  but 
I  will  not  urge  her  to  come  while 
the  stoves  are  up,  as  we  shall  find  it 
very  expensive  to  keep  her  warm. 

"  To-night  we  have  the  congrega- 
tional meeting  to  see  about  the  Par- 
sonage. Of  course  I  am  going  to  be 
on  hand  to  propose  lots  of  closets  and 
very  few  stairs.  .  .  .  On  all  the  fences 
in  town  there  are  large  bills  posted, 
with  the  most  brilliant  pictures,  and 
enormous  letters  telling  of  some  grand 
performance  in  one  of  our  public  halls. 


lOO  ,   MEMORIAL. 

Of  course  I  know  all's  not  gold  that 
glitters;  but  I  do  want  to  go:  you 
know  I  always  was  more  fond  of 
Barnum's  and  Van  Amburgh's,  than 
the  other  children,  —  yet  I  can't  do  it. 
Now  if  I  was  only  a  foundrj^-man  or 
the  fish-boy,  what  bliss!  By  and  by 
some  old,  worn-out  speaker  will  come 
here  to  lecture  upon  the  "^  manifest 
proclivities  and  inherent  infirmities, 
as  evinced  by  the  practical  evolutions 
in  physical  chemistry: '  then  John  and 
I  can  buy  a  ticket.  Oh,  what  pleasure 
to  look  forward  to !  " 

To  her  correspondent  in  Illinois  she 
writes :  — 

"There  is  a  young  girl's  prayer- 
meeting  connected  with  our  church, 
which  was  commenced  this  year.  At 
our  first  meeting  we  were  a  little  com- 


THE  MINISTERS  WIFE.  lOI 

pany  of  three,  now  we  number  four- 
teen: of  this  number  only  five  are 
Christians.  I  do  pray  God  that  all 
may  be  brought  to  love  the  Saviour. 
We  meet  every  Thursday  afternoon 
at  three  o'clock.  Will  you  sometimes 
remember  us  then  in  prayer?" 

About  this  meeting  she  writes  to 
a  young  lady  in  Peekskill,  one  of  its 
most  active  supporters :  — 

"  God  is  gradually  increasing  our 
numbers,  and  we  must  labor  and  pray, 
believing  that  He  will  make  us, 
through  the  Spirit's  guiding,  the 
means  of  bringing  all  our  little  band 
to  the  Saviour.  Yes,  dear  T.,  God  has 
used  just  such  unworthy  means  before. 
He  will  do  it  now  if  we  only  do  all 
we  can,  praying  for  His  blessing  to 
follow  every  word  and  act  done  for 


I02  MEMORIAL. 

His  glory,  or  to  influence  one  soul  to 
come  out  boldly  for  Christ. 

"  And  let  me  tell  you  a  plan  (just 
between  us  two) .  I  thought  of  it  lately, 
and  I  feel  it  is  the  only  way  to  make 
an  eflfort  direct  and  eflectual.  Will 
you  choose  out  from  among  your 
friends  07ie  upon  whom  you  will  be- 
stow special  labor;  that  is,  pray  more 
for;  seek  an  opportunity  to  drop  a 
word  for  Christ,  —  always  praying, 
with  dependence  on  the  Spirit,  that 
God  will  treasure  it  up  in  her  breast? 
I,  too,  have  chosen  one.  We  need 
never  tell  one  another:  but,  dear  T.,  if 
we  are  faithful,  prayerful,  and  hope- 
fully patient,  one  glad  Communion 
day  will  reveal  to  one  another  that 
our  prayer  has  been  answered." 
The     girl    that   Kate    selected    in 


THE  MINISTER'S  WIFE.  IO3 

conformity  with  the  above  plan  was 
P.  H.,  one  who  had  no  love  for  God  in 
her  heart.  Not  content  with  praying 
for  her,  she  strove  also  to  bring  her 
into  this  little  meeting.  This  was  a 
work  of  some  difficulty,  but  was 
finally  accomplished.  The  next  step 
was  to  gain  her  attendance  at  the 
Church  prayer-meeting.  P.  H.  finally 
consented  to  this,  on  the  condition  that 
she  might  go  with  Kate.  Every 
Wednesday  night  thereafter  she  was 
promptly  at  the  Parsonage,  ready  to 
accompany  the  young  pastor's  wife 
to  the  meeting. 

How  earnestly  dear  Kate  both 
labored  and  prayed  that  God  would 
give  her  this  "  one  soul  "  is  seen  in 
her  diary  and  letters.  At  last,  with 
great  satisfaction,  she  makes  the  fol- 
lowing record, — 


1 04  MEMORIAL. 

''  I  had  a  talk  with  P.  H.  after  the 
prayer-meeting.  Thank  God  she 
does  love  the  Saviour,  and  is  willino- 
to  confess  Him.  Oh !  I  must  pray  for 
her.  It  is  all  Christ:  I  can  do  nothing; 
Christ  must  be  all  in  all." 

Kate  v^as  spared  to  sit  down  at  the 
Table  of  the  Lord  with  this  dear  one 
whom  the  Lord  had  given  her;  and  it 
was  one  of  the  most  delightful  events 
of  her  life. 

It  is  pleasant  to  add  that  P.  H. 
has  been  the  means  of  brino^ino;  four 
others  into  this  afternoon  prayer-meet- 
ing, and  is  herself  one  of  its  stanch- 
est  supporters. 

On  Thursday,  April  29,  1869,  at 
3  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Kate  was 
taken  with  convulsions,  w^hich  con- 
tinued, with    brief  interruptions,    till 


THE  MINISTERS   WIFE. 


lOS 


eleven  o'clock  that  evening.  Many 
days  of  w^eakness  and  unconscious- 
ness followed,  during  which  she  was 
watched  over  by  ladies  of  the  con- 
gregation with  as  much  fondness,  ten- 
derness, and  loving  care,  as  if  she 
had  been  sister  to  them  all.  For 
weeks  her  life  was  despaired  of;  but 
finally,  in  answer  to  many  prayers, 
she  was  raised  up  again  to  compara- 
tive health. 

As  soon  as  she  was  able  to  travel, 
she  spent  a  month,  with  her  husband, 
in  her  father's  house,  at  Audubon 
Park  (July)  ;  and  the  next  one  at 
Greenport,  L.I.,  hoping  to  derive  ben- 
efit from  the  sea  air. 

One  of  her  sisters  who  was  with 
her  at  Greenport,  furnishes  the  fol- 
lowing incidents:  — 


I06  MEMORIAL. 

The  washerwoman  whom  they  em- 
ployed had  two  little  children.  They 
were  always  sent  with  the  clean 
clothes.  Every  time  they  brought 
Kate's,  she  would  take  them  into  her 
room,  and,  after  talking  with  them 
for  a  while,  she  would  give  each  of 
them  a  picture-card  and  some  candy. 

An  old  man,  going  for  his  cows, 
passed  the  house  morning  and  night. 
Kate  always  managed  to  see  him, 
and  say  a  few  kind  words  as  he 
passed;  for  she  said  it  made  him  feel 
happy.  Before  she  left  he  came  to 
bid  her  good-by. 

There  was  a  little  colored  boy  that 
she  often  met.  She  never  failed  to 
speak  to  him,  and  present  him  with 
a  bright  picture-card. 

On    Sabbath,  if  she    saw  any  one 


THE  MINISTERS   WIFE. 


107 


reading  an  irreligious  book  or  paper, 
she  would  unobtrusively  put  some 
pleasing  and  attractive  little  books  or 
tracts  on  the  parlor-table. 

There  was  a  girl  in  the  house  who 
had  been  confined  to  bed  eiofhteen 
years.  Kate  sent  her  every  day  a 
pretty  little  book  or  some  flowers, 
and  always  accompanied  them  with 
loving  words  of  sympathy. 

In  alluding  to  her  severe  illness, 
in  a  letter  firom  Greenport  to  her  eld- 
est sister,  she  says:  — 

"  I  do  feel  very  grateful  to  God  for 
restoring  me  from  such  a  sickness. 
I  was  almost  in  the  border  land, 
when  He  brought  me  back.  I  some- 
times feel  as  if  I  had  caught  a  glimpse 
of  the  new  Jerusalem,  and  the  shining 
ones  at  the  gate.    It  was  a  lonely  feel- 


I08  MEMORIAL. 

ing  I  had  when  I  came  to  conscious- 
ness and  found  the  little  stranger  — 
the  little  daughter  that  I  had  longed 
for  —  gone.  I  used  to  be  so  happy:  I 
never  felt  lonely,  for  I  had  that  sweet 
hope,  that  delightful  motive,  to  thank 
God  for  every  moment.  Now,  when 
I  see  others  with  darling  children,  with 
just  such  tiny  ones,  I  look  up  and 
ask,  ^  Was  it  necessary,  Father.'  I 
know  it  must  have  been;  I  know 
God  did  right,  He  always  does. 
Yes :  He  has  brought  me  nearer  to 
Him;  I  love  Him  ten  thousand  times 
more  ;  I  trust  Him  more.  ...  I  do 
long  to,  —  oh,  I  long  to  save  souls; 
but  I  will  be  patient,  remembering, — 

'  They  also  serve,  who  only  stand  and  wait.' 

And  I  am  sure,  this  summer,  God 
wants  me  to  wait." 


THE  MINISTERS  WIFE.  IO9 

In  another  letter,  from  the  same 
place,  she  says:  — 

"  We  attend  the  Presbyterian 
Church.  They  have  had  a  precious 
revival,  and  are  full  to  overflow^ing 
with  the  Spirit.  The  evening  meet- 
ings are  very  impressive.  Last  night 
several  spoke  who  were  converted 
last  winter.  One  was  a  sea-captain. 
It  was  very  touching  to  hear  him  tell 
how  the  Spirit  had  striven  with  him  ; 
though  in  homely  language,  it  brought 
tears  into  every  one's  eyes." 

After  her  return  to  her  own  home, 
she  writes  to  her  father,  Sept.  3, 
1869:  — 

"  I  was  feeling  rather  blue  yester- 
day: you  know  the  shady  side  of  a 
minister's  life  comes  sometimes,  and 
after  such  a  long  vacation  it  is  rather 


no  MEMORIAL. 

hard  to  commence  work  again.  We 
have  the  dearest  people  you  could  find 
anywhere;  but,  like  all  people,  there 
are  always  some  who  think  the  pastor 
and  wife  have  nothing  to  do  but  to 
make  calls ;  and  this  cannot  well  be 
done  often,  when  you  have  over  three 
hundred  to  visit.  Don't  think  I  don't 
love  the  good  work;  indeed,  I  would 
choose  it  rig^ht  over  ao^ain.  I  remem- 
ber  the  ^  servant  cannot  be  above  the 
Master ; '  all  these  troubles  tell  me 
that  I  am  not  a  bastard,  but  a  real 
son  of  God!  I  do  thank  God  for 
sending  them,  as  we  are  very  apt  to 
become  indifferent  to  our  growth 
in  grace  when  all  goes  on  prosper- 
ously. And  after  all,  father,  it  is  the 
way  we  take  them:  we  ourselves 
either  make  them  trials  or  blessino-s. 


THE  MINISTERS   WIFE.  Ill 

Well,  as  I  said,  I  felt  blue,  and  a  real 
old-fashioned  homesick  feeling,  when 
John  came  in  and  gave  me  a  letter. 
When  I  saw  yom'  picture,  I  just 
looked  at  it  and  had  a  good  cry.  It 
is  so  like  you,  —  so  like  when  you 
don't  exactly  understand,  and  say,  — 
^  Now,  —  now  let  me  see.  I  haven't 
got  it  straight.  Just  wait  a  minute; 
who,  when,  where,  what  is  it? '  I 
felt  rio^ht  at  home  ao:ain  with  all  the 
family,  and  in  a  little  while  I  was  a 
great  deal  happier.  I  had  to  sleep 
with  you  under  the  pillow,  and  the 
first  thing  I  did  when  I  woke  up  was 
to  pull  you  out,  and  say,  ^Good-morn- 
ing.' 

"  I  am  so  glad  to  have  it.  I  do 
believe  I  can  work  better  with  you 
looking  at  me." 


112  MEMORIAL, 

Her  mother  wrote  to  her  ever}^ 
week.  About  these  letters,  she  says, 
(Jan.  19,  1870):  "I  did  have  such 
a  nice  letter  from  you.  O  mother, 
your  letters  are  such  a  delight  to  me, 
—  so  brimful  of  news.  I  do  thank 
you  over  and  over  again  for  them." 

At  another  time  she  writes:  — 

"Your  splendid  letter  came  to  me 
yesterday.  Oh,  I  was  so  glad  to  get 
it.  I  had  no  idea  you  were  well 
enough  to  write,  and  when  I  saw  it 
was  really  from  you  I  was  so  happ3\ 
And  it  was  so  full  of  news.  Nobody 
writes  such  a  good  letter  as  you 
do." 

In  a  letter  to  her  mother,  dated 
Oct.  4,  1869,  she  thus  alludes  to  the 
death  of  one  of  her  most  beloved 
parishioners,  — 


THE  MINISTER'S  WIFE.  II3 

"  I  have  lost  my  best  friend,  in 
Mrs.  Nelson's  death.  Oh,  how  I  miss 
her!  Most  every  day  I  have  a  little 
cry  to  think  I  will  not  see  her  here 
again." 

How  little  she  then  thought  that 
in  less  than  six  months  she  would 
meet  her  in  the  abode  of  redeemed 
souls! 

To  one  of  her  sisters  she  writes 
about  the  same  time:  — 

"  Be  sure  God  has  some  work  for 
you  in  3^our  home,  and  only  you  can 
do  it,  and  without  you  it  will  never 
be  done.  Remember,  darling,  that 
life  is  uncertain,  time  is  short,  and 
we  must  work  for  Christ  every  day. 
Never  mind  if  you  see  no  good  com- 
ing from  the  word  spoken :  don't  for- 
get that  God  has  said,  "^  His  wo7^d  shM 


114  MEMORIAL. 

not  return  unto  Him  void,  it  will  ac- 
complish that  whereunto  it  was  sent.' 
Not  one  good  word  then  is  lost ; 
remember  that.  Don't  be  afraid, 
darling,  to  speak  or  live  for  Jesus.  It 
will  be  worth  all  the  strus^o^le  when 
He  confesses  us  as  His  childre^i.)  be- 
fore His  Father,  at  the  last  day." 
To  her  mother  she  writes :  — 

Dec.  5,  1S69. 

"  I  don't  feel  as  if  my  time  was  my 
own,  as  it  used  to  be.  We  are  the 
Lord's,  consecrated  to  His  work  here. 
He  has  a  great  deal  for  us  to  do,  and 
I  know  He  will  not  bless  us  unless 
our  first  desire  is  to  do  His  will.  .  .  . 
Oh,  I  do  love  my  home  and  people  so 
dearly!  As  for  our  church,  you  know 
Dr.  Hall's  or  Beecher's  could  not 
begin  to  compare  with  it." 


THE  MINISTER'S   WIFE.  II5 

The  loving  congregation  were 
building  a  most  beautiful  parsonage 
for  the  young  pastor  and  his  wife. 
Many  parts  of  it  had  been  planned 
according  to  her  excellent  taste.  She 
thus  alludes  to  it,  Dec.  lo,  in  a  let- 
ter to  her  mother:  — 

"  Our  house  is  going  up  like  magic. 
It  is  surprising  to  see  it  grow.  The 
frame  is  all  up,  and  now  they  are 
laying  the  boards  on  the  outside.  All 
day  I  hear  the  hammering,  and  it  is 
a  very  pleasant  sound  to  me.'' 

It  was  not  quite  finished  at  the  time 
of  her  death. 

To  her  brother-in-law  she  writes :  — 

Dec.  10,  1S69. 

"  I  want  you  to  select  some  books 
that  you  think  profitable  for  John,  as 
helps  to  study:  some  that  are  newer, 


1 1 6  MEMORIAL. 

and  that  he  would  not  be  apt  to  have. 
And  one  I  would  like  to  be  the  ^  Life 
of  Brainard.' 

"  You  know  John  is  away  ;  and  I 
thought  if  you  could  send  them  to 
the  house  before  Tuesday  night  I  can 
put  them  aside,  and  he  will  not  know 
about  it  till  Christmas  mornino^.  I 
feel  a  perfect  confidence  in  your 
judgment,  so  don't  be  afraid  of  not 
pleasing  me.  I  promise  at  the  outset 
to  be  pleased.  .  .  .  Oh,  how  I  would 
love  to  give  everybody  something!" 

On  the  reception  of  the  parcel,  she 
thus  playfully  writes  (Dec.  13)  :  — 

"  The  splendid-looking  bundle  has 
come,  written  over  so  grandly  that  I 
feel  as  if  I  must  be  Lady  Mary  Wort- 
ley  Montague,  or  Madame  Guyon, 
receiving  Fenelon's  confessions.    You 


THE  MINISTER'S   WIFE.  II7 

see  I  don't  have  often  such  a  huge 
package  addressed  to  the  Rev.  Mrs., 
so  it  is  no  wonder  my  head  is  a  Httle 
turned.  ...  I  know  the  books  w^ill  be 
just  what  John  wants.  I  feel  sure  of 
it.  Indeed,  I  almost  think  he  must 
have  been  praying  for  them." 

And  to  the  same,  in  another  letter 
of  about  the  same  date,  she  writes:  — 

"  How  differently  we  grasp  the 
promises  oftentimes!  It  seems  easy 
to  believe  for  others,  but  so  hard  to 
believe  for  ourselves.  When  we  see 
others  succeeding  in  a  good  work, 
we  think  God  has  made  them  for 
that  work,  —  we  never  could  do  it. 
Alas!  we  forget  that  "^  to  him  that 
hath  shall  be  given,  and  more  abun- 
dantly.' We  do  not  try  our  feeble 
strength  in  the  service  of  Christ,  and. 


I  1 8  3IEM0RIAL. 

waiting  for  more,  lose  so  many  pre- 
cious opportunities  perhaps  never 
aofain  to  be  recalled.  If  we  would 
only  do  our  little  every  day  for  Christ, 
and  leave  all  the  rest  to  him, 
wouldn't  our  homes  be  full  of  the 
Spirit  and  some  parts  of  our  land 
brighter  because  of  our  short  sta}^ 
here?" 

On  the  ist  of  January,  1870,  she 
resumes  her  journal  with  the  follow- 
ing entry :  — 

"Yes,  I  am  going  to  commence 
again.  It  has  been  such  a  pleasure 
to  read  over  the  other  two  diaries 
(1867  and  1868),  that  I  re-commence 
this  one.  I  hope  to  keep  it  up.  My 
sickness  all  the  fall  and  winter  has 
prevented  me  from  attempting  any 
new  thing.     Perhaps  now  I  will  learn 


THE  MINISTER'S   WIFE. 


119 


to  look  away  more  from  myself.  I 
long  to  advance  in  holiness.  I  love 
to  see  my  grow^th  from  year  to  year. 
God  grant  that  I  may  be  led  by  His 
Spirit  to  give  Him  all  the  glory." 

January  4. 

"  A  few  of  our  good  ladies  met 
with  me  to  talk  about  our  havino^  a 
prayer-meeting.  We  have  decided 
to  commence  it  this  Friday,  at  two 
o'clock.  May  God  guide,  and  be 
present  with  us." 

She  was  only  permitted  to  attend 
two  of  these  meetings. 

January  6. 

"  I  feel  as  if  I  had  lived  a  year  since 
I  last  wrote  in  my  diary.  This 
morning  I  woke  up  about  two  o'clock, 
feeling  that  I  was  suffocating.     I  told 


I20  MEMORIAL. 

John  that  I  felt  nervous  over  the 
prayer-meeting,  feeling  that  I  could 
not  lead  it.  We  talked  two  hours. 
May  God  bless  my  dear  husband  for 
the  Christian  advice  he  gave  me.  Oh, 
I  see  my  whole  life  so  plainly  now! 
Yes :  I  have  thought  that  things  could 
not  be  done  unless  I  did  them,  for- 
getting Christ  must  be  and  do  all.  I 
have  given  up  my  afternoon  prayer- 
meeting^s  now  until  after  the  little  one 
comes.  I  feel  that  God  is  leading  me 
to  see  that  I  must  be  nothing  that 
He  may  have  all  the  glory." 

January  19. 

"  Oh,  how  precious  was  our  evening 
prayer-meeting!  Christ  seemed  very 
near  us.  I  do  long  to  have  the  power 
of  Christ  rest  upon  me.  I  know  I 
want  to  be  all   His.     Dear  Jesus,  in 


THE  MINISTERS  WIFE.  121 

whatever  way  You  think  best,  take 
away  all  of  myself,  and  give  me  Thy 
precious,  precious  self" 

On  January  ii,  she  writes  to  her 
little  sister :  — 

"  We  had  such  a  good  time  on 
Sunday.  Saturday  night  ten  children 
from  the  Howard  Mission  came  here 
to  Peeksk.ill.  We  knew  they  were 
coming,  so  they  were  all  provided 
for.  I  took  two :  the  others  were  di- 
vided around.  My  two  little  girls 
were  real  sweet.  They  were  a  little 
bit  afraid  at  first,  but  afterwards  they 
jumped  about  the  room  so  happy. 
They  thought  the  organ  was  wonder- 
ful. I  let  them  play  on  it.  When 
they  went  to  bed,  they  wanted  to  lock 
the  door,  they  thought  it  would  be 
such  fun  ;  but  I  told  them  it  was  a 

9 


122  MEMORIAL. 

great  deal  nicer  to  keep  it  open. 
They  told  me  in  the  morning  that 
they  did  no^  sleep  any  all  nighty  be- 
cause the  wind  blew  so  hard;  but  I 
guess  they  did.  Sunday  afternoon 
we  had  an  immense  meeting  in  our 
church.  Everybody  cried.  There 
was  a  baby  four  months  old,  and  two 
other  children  about  three  years  old, 
a  little  girl  often,  and  a  boy  of  twelve 
to  be  given  away.  The  baby  was 
so  sweet.  It  looked  all  around  the 
church,  and  put  its  little  hand  up 
to  the  missionary's  face,  and  never 
cried. 

"  All  the  little  girls  sang  together, 
then  my  little  girls  sang  alone.  After- 
wards they  had  a  collection  of  $  1 05 .00. 
Wasn't  that  good.?" 

The     following     little    hymn    was 


THE  MINISTERS   WIFE.  I  23 

sung,  and  the  air  so  impressed  itself 
on  Kate's  mind  that  she  was  heard 
humming  it  to  herself  as  she  went 
about  the  house  in  the  discharge  of 
her  duties:  — 

There's  a  land  that  is  fairer  than  day, 

And  by  faith  we  can  see  it  afar  ; 
For  the  Father  waits  over  the  way 

To  prepare  us  a  dwelHng-place  there. 

Chorus.  —  In  the  sweet  by  and  by  we  shall  meet  on 
that  beautiful  shore,  &c. 

We  shall  sing  on  that  beautiful  shore 
The  melodious  songs  of  the  blest ; 

And  our  spirits  shall  sorrow  no  more, 
Not  a  sigh  for  the  blessing  of  rest. 

In  the  sweet  by  and  by  we  shall  meet  on  that  beau- 
tiful shore,  &c. 

To  our  bountiful  Father  above 
We  will  offer  the  tribute  of  praise. 

For  the  glorious  gift  of  His  love, 

And  the  blessings  that  hallow  our  days. 

In  the  sweet  by  and  by  we  shall  meet  on  that  beau- 
tiful shore,  &c. 


1 24  MEMORIAL, 

She  had  a  drawer  in  her  bureau 
which  she  called  "sinners'  drawer," 
full  of  tracts  and  books,  adapted  to 
the  thoughtless  and  careless,  from 
which  she  distributed  as  she  had  op- 
portunity. Not  till  the  last  great  day 
of  account  shall  we  know  what  fruit 
has  sprung  up  from  this  good  seed, 
watered  with  prayer. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter, 
dated  January  19,  1870,  shows  her 
loving  sympathy  for  others,  and  her 
readiness  to  rejoice  with  those  that 
do  rejoice :  — 

"  Oh,  I  am  so  glad  dear  sister  has  a 
little  son,  and  is  doing  nicely!  I  have 
thouo:ht  of  her  so  much  latelv,  and 
have  always  taken  her  with  me  to 
God  in  prayer ;  and  now  the  answer 
has  come.    Isn't  it  sweet?  ...  I  didn't 


THE  MINISTERS  WIFE.  I  25 

think  I  ever  would  be  so  delighted 
over  another  such  event,  but  this 
morning  I  am  smiling  all  over  with 
real  joy.  ...  I  cannot  do  any  thing 
heartily  to-day,  I  am  so  full  of  sister 
and  the  baby.  Isn't  God  good?  Oh, 
ought  we  not  to  love  Him  with  all 
our  hearts  ?  " 

Writing  home  a  few  days  later, 
January  25th,  she  says:  — 

"  What  a  splendid  visit  we  did 
have  from  father.  Such  an  evening! 
Oh,  why  did  I  not  listen  more  when 
I  was  at  home!  Never  did  I  realize 
so  deeply  before  what  a  glorious 
expositor  of  Scripture  he  is  (yes,  I 
did  too) ;  but  somehow  I  did  feel  it 
very  strongly  that  evening.  Listen 
to  every  thing  that  father  says,  dear 
sisters:  remember  that  some  day  you 
cannot  enjoy  them  so  often. 


126  MEMORIAL. 

"Dear  father,  may  God  reward  him 
for  the  good  he  does  others  by  com- 
municating these  precious  truths.  I 
pray  God  to  bless  him  for  the  benefit 
he  has  conferred  on  me  in  making  me 
love  the  Bible  ten  thousand  times 
more." 

The  last  two  entries  we  give  entire. 
They  record  a  struggle  and  a  victory, 
and  are  a  fit  close  to  the  precious 
journal. 

February  8. 

"  Such  another  terrible  day  of  bit- 
ter rebellion  and  fightings  within  I 
pray  God  I  may  never  experience 
again.  Towards  evening  a  flood  of 
tears  relieved  me,  and  my  Saviour's 
strength  was  made  perfect  in  my 
weakness. 

"  Poor  Kate.  .  .  .    Blessed  Jesus." 


THE  MINISTERS   WIFE.  I  27 

February  9. 

^^  But  to-day  I  have  been  ver}^  happy. 
God  has  helped  me  to  bear  my  cross 
for  His  sake,  and  I  do  want  to  have 
His  w^ill  my  will.  I  was  greatly 
strengthened  to  do  my  morning  du- 
ties." 

Kate  never  fully  recovered  from 
the  effects  of  her  severe  illness  in 
April,  1869.  The  trouble  seemed  to 
linger  in  her  system.  But  while  there 
was  much  feebleness  of  body,  all  who 
saw  her  could  not  fail  to  note  her 
remarkable  growth  in  grace. 

Whilst  her  letters  and  conversation 
lost  none  of  that  wit  and  vivacity  so 
peculiar  to  her,  yet  with  this  there 
was  an  increased  earnestness  and 
devotion  to  the  Master's  work  ob- 
served by  all. 


128  MEMORIAL. 

Her  loving  affection  for  the  people 
among  whom  God  had  cast  her  lot  as 
a  minister's  wife  was  very  remarkable. 
She  always  said  that  she  would  never 
leave  Peekskill. 

From  the  sea-shore,  where  she  had 
gone  for  the  benefit  of  her  health,  in 
the  prospect  of  returning  home  she 
writes,  "I  shall  be  so  glad  to  be 
among  my  own  people  again."  One 
of  the  last  complete  sentences  she 
was  ever  heard  to  utter  was,  "  God 
bless  our  church  when  I  die." 

From  the  ist  of  March,  she  was 
subject  to  brief  periods  of  great  pain, 
accompanied  by  severe  headache; 
but  on  Saturday  (the  5th)  these  pains 
became  much  more  violent  as  well 
as  more  frequent.  That  w^eek  there 
was    read    to    her    a    very   able    and 


THE  MINISTER'S  WIFE.  I  29 

eloquent  article  on  affliction,  in  one 
part  of  which  the  thought  was  beauti- 
fully brought  out  that  trouble  is  but 
the  shadow  of  Jesus,  so  when  we  are 
suffering  we  may  be  sure  that  He  is 
near.  While  she  was  enduring  one 
of  these  paroxysms  of  pain  she  said  to 
her  husband.  "Jesus  must  be  very 
near  me  now,  for  I  feel  His  shadow 
all  over  me."  Then  she  continued, 
"Jesus  can  take  all  this  pain  away,  or, 
what  is  just  as  good,  give  me  grace  to 
bear  it." 

Well  might  we  imagine  her  saying, 
in  the  words  of  the  poet, — 

"  So  I  am  watching  quietly 

Every  day. 
Whenever  the  sun  shines  brightly, 

I  rise  and  say  ; 
'  Surely  it  is  the  shining  of  His  face  ! ' 
And  look  unto  the  gates  of  His  high  place 

Beyond  the  sea ; 


I30 


MEMORIAL. 


For  I  know  He  is  coming  shortly 

To  summon  me. 
And  when  a  shadow  falls  across  the  window 

Of  my  room, 
Where  I  am  working  my  appointed  task, 
I  lift  my  head  to  watch  the  door,  and  ask 

If  He  is  come  ; 
And  the  angel  answers  sweetly 

In  my  home  : 
Only  a  few  more  shadows, 

And  He  will  come." 


About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
she  was  taken  with  convulsions,  which 
continued  every  half-hour  till  seven 
the  next  morning. 

About  ten  on  the  previous  evening, 
amid  these  convulsions,  the  babe  — 
little  Kate  —  was  born. 

The  last  one  of  these  spasms,  on 
Sabbath  morning  about  seven,  was 
much  more  severe  than  any  that  had 
preceded  it,  and  left  her  so  entirely 


THE  MINISTERS   WIFE.  I3I 

prostrate  that  no  hope  was  enter- 
tained of  her  recovery.  At  one  time 
it  was  thought  she  would  not  live  an 
hour;  but  at  three  in  the  afternoon 
she  rallied  wonderfully,  and  fond 
hope,  ever  ready  to  spring,  up  on  the 
slightest  encouragement,  again  com- 
forted us.  She  lingered  in  an  uncon- 
scious state  till  Thursday,  March 
10,  1870,  when  congestion  of  the 
lungs  set  in,  and  at  two  o'clock  that 
afternoon  she  went  home  to  Jesus. 

Again,  as  at  her  previous  sickness, 
ladies  of  the  congregation  waited 
upon  her  night  and  day  with  the  most 
untiring  devotion.  May  the  Lord 
abundantly  reward  them  for  their 
labor  of  love. 

And  the  little  daughter,  for  whose 
sake  the  mother  gave  her  life,  —  the 


132  MEMORIAL. 

little  Kate,  —  may  God's  best  blessing 
descend  upon  her !  The  mother's 
praj^ers,  offered  for  her  before  she 
was  born,  will  not  be  forgotten  by 
our  loving  Lord.  May  she  prove  a 
blessing  to  all  with  whom  she  comes 
in  contact  here;  and  when  life's  rest- 
less voyage  is  over,  join  her  loving 
mother  whom  she  will  never  know 
till  then,  in  the  "  Christian's  Home  in 
Glory." 

The  funeral  was  on  Monday,  March 
14,  at  one  o'clock. 

An  entire  car-load  of  friends  went 
from  the  city  to  attend  it.  A  thin 
covering  of  snow  was  spread  over 
the  ground,  but  the  sky  was  bright 
and  beautiful.  The  members  of  the 
family  and  intimate  friends  gathered 
at   the    house,   where   a   prayer    was 


THE  MINISTER'S   WIFE.  1 33 

offered  by  the  Rev.  L.  N.  Mudge,  of 
Yonkers,  after  which,  the  coffin,  liter- 
ally covered  with  flowers,  was  carried 
over  to  the  church  by  the  elders. 
There  a  great  audience,  even  as  many 
as  could  find  entrance,  were  already 
assembled.  A  selection  of  Scripture 
passages  was  read  by  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Millard,  of  the  Second  Presbyterian 
Church,  and  prayer  offered  by  the 
Rev.  Wilson  Phraner,  of  Sing  Sing; 
after  which  a  discourse  was  delivered 
by  the  Rev.  C.  A.  Stoddard,  her 
former  pastor,  full  extracts  from 
which  will  be  found  at  the  end  of 
this  Memorial. 

At  the  close  of  these  exercises  the 
long  procession  wended  its  way  to 
the  cemetery,  where,  in  the  blessed 
hope  of  a  joyful  resurrection,  we  laid 


134 


MEMORIAL. 


all  that  was  earthly  of  her  we  loved 
so  tenderly. 

But  dear  Kate  is  not  there  :  she 
sleeps  not  in  the  new-made  grave  on 
the  hillside,  —  that  only  holds  the 
frail  tenement  of  clay.  She,  a  ran- 
somed and  glorified  spirit,  is  now  in 
the  home  of  the  blessed,  with  the 
dear  Saviour  whom  she  loved  so  well. 

"That  clime  is  not  like  this  dull  dime  of  ours  ; 

All,  all  is  brightness  there  ; 
A  sweeter  influence  breathes  around  its  flowers, 

And  a  far  milder  air. 
No  calm  below  is  like  that  calm  above. 
No  region  here  is  like  that  realm  of  love  ; 
Earth's  softest  spring  ne'er  shed  so  soft  a  light, 
Earth's  brightest  summer  never  shone  so  bright." 

Think  of  her 

"  Where  the  faded  flowers  shall  freshen,  — 
Freshen  never  more  to  fade  ; 
Where  the  shaded  sky  shall  brighten,  — 
Brighten  never  more  to  shade  ; 


THE  MINISTER'S   WIFE. 

Where  the  sun-blaze  never  scorches  ; 

Where  the  star-beams  cease  to  chill ; 
Where  no  tempest  stirs  the  echoes 

Of  the  wood  or  wave  or  hill ; 
Where  the  morn  shall  wake  in  gladness, 

And  the  moon  the  joy  prolong, 
Where  the  daylight  dies  in  fragrance, 

'Mid  the  burst  of  holy  song : 

Sister,  we  shall  meet  and  rest 
'Mid  the  holy  and  the  blest !" 


^?>S 


IV. 

EXTRACTS 


REV.    C.    A.    STODDARD'S    SERMON    AT 
THE    FUNERAL. 


"^ 


10 


''  r^OULD  I  follow  my  feelings  this 
afternoon,  I  should  take  my 
place  among  the  special  mourners 
who  crave  consolation  and  instruction 
on  this  sad  occasion.  For  so  effi- 
cient was  the  help,  so  faithful  the 
labor,  so  cheering  the  words,  and  so 
hearty  the  sympathy  in  the  time  of 
my  own  sorrow,  of  our  departed  sis- 
ter, that  I  cannot  but  feel  that  I  have 
sustained  a  personal  loss  in  her  de- 
cease. But  I  stand  here  to-day  to 
discharge  a  sacred  trust,  —  to  fulfil  the 
request  of  one  who  never  needed  to 


140 


MEMORIAL. 


be  asked  twice  by  her  pastor  to  do 
any  Christian  or  kindly  work. 

"This,  my  friends,  is  more  than  a 
family  affliction.  A  large  circle  of 
relatives  mourn  here  to-day ;  this 
church  grieves  for  one  whom  they 
quickly  learned  to  love  and  prize;  my 
own  church  sorrows  for  the  removal 
from  earth  of  one  of  its  highly  es- 
teemed members  ;  little  children, 
whom  she  taught  the  way  to  Heaven, 
are  looking  upward  with  tearful  eyes, 
with  a  sorrow  in  their  hearts  akin  to 
that  which  the  disciples  felt  when 
their  Master  was  taken  from  them; 
and  in  lonely  dwellings,  in  tenement- 
houses,  in  the  homes  of  the  poor,  in 
the  hearts  of  the  sick  and  feeble,  there 
is  sincere  grief  for  this  sad  event  to- 
day. 


SERMON  AT   THE  FUNERAL.  I4I 

"  But,  blessed  be  God,  we  do  not 
sorrow  as  those  who  have  no  hope. 
Our  sister  sleeps;  she  rests  from  her 
labors;  she  is  for  ever  with  the  Lord, 
and  her  works  do  follow  her.  For 
her  to  live  was  Christ,  for  her  to  die 
was  gain.  Death,  though  it  has  sep- 
arated her  from  us,  has  only  brought 
her  into  closer  union  with  Christ,  — 
a  union  that  can  never  be  disturbed. 
Freed  from  the  anxieties,  the  cares, 
the  infirmities,  the  fears,  the  miseries 
of  this  uncertain  earthly  lot,  relieved 
from  sorrow,  sin,  and  pain,  she  is  with 
Christ,  which  is  far  better.  Blessed 
and  holy  is  her  state  of  rest, —  the  pre- 
lude to  a  still  more  blessed  and  glori- 
ous reward,  when  Christ  who  is  our 
life  shall  appear,  and  she  shall  appear 
with  Him  in  glory.     ^  Eye  hath  not 


H' 


MEMORIAL. 


seen,  nor  ear  heard,  neither  have  en- 
tered into  the  heart  of  man  the  things 
which  God  hath  prepared  for  them 
that    love    Him.' 

"  Our  departed  friend  and  sister 
w^as  a  child  of  the  covenant.  Given 
to  God  in  early  years,  she  was  in- 
structed thoroughly  in  the  word  of 
God,  and  daily  commended  to  Him 
in  prayer.  She  had  that  inestimable 
treasure,  a  Christian  home  training; 
and  few,  even  of  Christian  homes, 
could  compare  with  hers,  where  the 
word  of  God  was  made  the  theme  of 
daily  conversation,  and  the  teachings 
of  Christ  were  faithfully  applied  to 
common  life. 

"Added  to  these  teachings  was 
the  potent  influence  of  consistent 
Christian     example.       Religion    was 


SERMON  AT   THE  FUNERAL. 


H3 


made  a  joyous  and  desirable  thing  in 
this  household,  and  it  is  not  wonder- 
ful that  the  Holy  Spirit  found  ready 
entrance  into  a  prepared  heart,  and 
led  her  early  in  life  to  ratify  the  con- 
secration of  parental  piety  and  love 
by  her  voluntary  act.  Precious,  in- 
deed, must  be  the  reflection  to  these 
bereaved  parents,  that  their  labors 
and  prayers  for  this  beloved  daughter 
w^ere  so  abundantly  answered.  No 
regrets  for  undone  duty  •  no  drops  of 
bitterness    for    unfaithfulness    minHe 

o 

with  the  tears  which  nature  sends  to 
relieve  their  aching  hearts. 

"  She  grew  up  in  this  happ}-^.  Chris- 
tian home,  developing  a  lovely  and 
vigorous  Christian  character.  With 
rare  gifts  of  mind  and  graces  of  per- 
son and  manner,  she   easily  w^on  and 


144 


MEMORIAL, 


retained  the  love  and  friendship  of  all 
who  knew  her. 

"  In  her,  wit  and  keen  perception 
were  admirably  blended  with  tender- 
ness and  sympathy,  so  that  her  wit 
was  never  used  to  wound,  nor  her 
lively  appreciation  of  character  ap- 
plied to  ridicule  or  injure  others.  She 
could  cheer  the  downcast,  and  bring 
smiles  into  gloomy  faces  ;  and  also 
weep  with  those  who  wept,  and  sym- 
pathize with  the  distressed. 

"  She  possessed  artistic  talent  in 
no  mean  degree,  and  many  memo- 
rials of  her  taste  and  skill  adorn  the 
walls  of  her  family  and  friends.  To 
a  thorough  education  she  added  a 
taste  for  valuable  literature,  and  con- 
tinually enriched  her  mind  with  the 
treasures  which  learning  offers  to  the 
eager  student. 


SERMON  AT    THE  FUNERAL.  1 45 

"  But  all  her  gifts  and  talents  were 
consecrated  to  Christ's  service,  and 
her  special  enjoyments  were  found  in 
direct  and  personal  labors  for  the 
Lord.  Her  Sabbath-school  class 
loved  her,  because  they  knew,  with 
the  quick  perception  of  youth,  that 
she  loved  and  labored  for  them  with 
all  her  heart;  the  aged,  the  poor,  and 
the  distressed  welcomed  her  visits,  for 
they  felt  that  she  came  in  the  spirit 
of  her  Master,  and  brought  His  bless- 
ing to  their  humble  abodes,  as  well 
as  food  and  clothing  and  comforts  ; 
and  the  little  circle  of  praying  women, 
with  whom  she  sought  the  mercy- 
seat,  gladly  followed  her  in  that 
loving  approach  to  a  Saviour  near 
and  precious,  which  her  prayers  re- 
vealed. 


146  MEMORIAL. 

"  And  when  she  went  from  her 
father's  house  to  adorn  and  bless  a 
new  home,  as  the  wife  of  a  much 
loved  man  of  God,  prayers  and  bene- 
dictions followed  her  to  this  place. 
What  she  has  been  here,  in  the  home 
now  desolated  by  her  death,  in  this 
church  so  deeply  bereaved,  and  in 
this  community  so  largely  represented 
in  this  audience,  most  of  you  know 
full  well. 

"  Her  house  was  always  attractive, 
and  all  were  welcomed  there.  She 
entered  with  a  lively  interest  into 
all  the  plans  and  labors  of  her  hus- 
band for  the  spiritual  welfare  of  this 
people,  and  exhibited  the  unselfish- 
ness which  was  a  prominent  feature 
of  her  character,  in  the  cheerfulness 
with  which  she  lightened  his  burdens. 


SERMON  AT    THE  FUNERAL.  1 47 

and  the  assiduity  with  which  she  aid- 
ed him  to  extend  his  influence  and 
follow  up  his  ministrations. 

"  When,  a  year  ago,  she  was 
brought  near  to  the  gates  of  death, 
her  mind  was  stayed  on  God  ;  and 
those  who  have  seen  her  since  have 
marked  a  growth  in  holiness  and  like- 
ness to  Christ,  which  permits  us  to 
apply  to  her  the  Saviour's  beatitude, 
^  Blessed  are  the  pure  in  heart,  for 
they  shall  see  God.' 

"  To  some  it  may  seem  a  sad  pri- 
vation that  during  the  last  days  of 
her  life  she  was  unconscious ;  but 
dying  words  could  add  no  witness  to 
the  testimony  of  thy  life,  dear  friend, 
that  all  is  well  with  thee.  We  will 
not  find  fault  with  infinite  wisdom 
for    taking   thee    away,    nor   for   the 


148 


MEMORIAL. 


manner  of  thy  departure  ;  but  rather 
bring  a  tribute  of  gratitude  to  God, 
for  such  a  life,  and,  placing  it  upon 
the  coffin,  humbl}^  pray  that  the  pre- 
cious fragrance  of  thy  example  may 
be  inbreathed  by  all  these  sorrowing 
relatives  and  friends. 

"  My  brother  in  Christ,  it  has  been 
my  pleasure  and  privilege  to  know 
you  in  those  intimate  relations  which 
bind  hearts  closely  together,  to 
counsel  and  to  guide  you,  and  to  re- 
joice at  your  happiness,  and  increas- 
ing honor  and  usefulness  as  a  minister 
of  the  Gospel ;  and  now  ^  I  am  dis- 
tressed for  thee,  my  brother.'  The 
sympathy  and  prayer  which  you  can 
claim  are  freely  given  ;  but  our  best 
human  efforts  fall  short  of  your  great 
need.     Therefore  we   commend  you 


SERMON  AT   THE  FUNERAL.  1 49 

to  God,  and  to  the  word  of  His  grace, 

—  that  gracious  word  from  which  you 
have  often  been  able  to  draw  conso- 
lation for  afflicted  members  of  your 
flock.  May  the  peace  of  God  keep 
your  heart  and  mind  through  Jesus 
Christ.  May  this  bereavement  be 
a  means  of  sanctifying  you  for  the 
duties  of  life,  and  of  preparing  you  for 
a  blessed  reunion  with  your  departed 
wife.  This  church  that  you  have 
instructed,  counselled,  and  prayed 
for,  shares  deeply  in  your  grief,  and 
invokes  the  presence  of  the  Holy 
Comforter  to  heal  your  own  and 
their  wounded  hearts.    May  He  come, 

—  the  Messenger  of  Christ,  —  bring- 
ing to  both  pastor  and  people  a  bless- 
ing from  the  Man  of  Sorrows,  which 
shall  make  this   affliction  the  means 


ISO 


MEMORIAL. 


of  a  far  more  exceeding  and  eternal 
weight  of  glory. 

"We  commend  these  parents  and 
grandparents,  brothers  and  sisters  and 
friends,  to  the  gracious  Saviour.  Oh, 
what  sweet  and  soothing  memories 
will  brood,  as  on  dove-like  wings, 
over  that  home  from  which  our  sister, 
less  than  two  years  ago,  went  forth. 
As  these  recollections  arise,  may  God 
make  them  divine  ministers  to  point 
you  all  onward  in  the  path  of  duty; 
and,  as  the  little  babe  which  God  has 
kindly  spared  to  bear  the  face  and 
name  of  her  departed  mother,  grows 
into  womanhood  (which  God  grant), 
may  the  Saviour  print  His  Gospel 
on  her  heart,  and  make  her  such 
a  servant  of  Christ  as  this  mother 
was. 


SERMON  AT   THE  FUNERAL.  I5I 

"  If  there  are  any  here  without  a 
hope  in  Christ,  and  without  experi- 
ence of  what  it  is  to  be  a  Christian, 
may  God  teach  them  the  worth  ot 
such  a  hope  in  a  time  of  affliction, 
and  give  them  grace  to  learn  from  the 
character  of  our  departed  friend  how 
to  live  as  disciples  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ." 


'I  GO  to  life  and  not  to  death ; 

From  darkness  to  life's  native  sky : 
I  go  from  sickness  and  from  pain 

To  health  and  immortality. 

'  For  toil  there  comes  the  crowned  rest ; 

Instead  of  burdens,  eagle's  wings  ; 
And  I,  even  I,  this  life-long  thirst 

Shall  quench  at  everlasting  springs. 

'  God  lives  !    Who  says  that  I  must  die  ? 

I  cannot,  while  Jehovah  liveth ! 
Christ  lives !     I  cannot  die,  but  live  ; 

He  life  to  me  for  ever  giveth. 

'  Let  our  farewell  then  be  tearless, 
Since  I  bid  farewell  to  tears; 

Write  this  day  of  my  departure 
Festive  in  your  coming  years." 

BONAK. 


Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Sp 


1    1012  01039  7885 


